Green: Denbigh Show to highlight major gains in agriculture
Published:Saturday | June 22, 2024 | 12:09 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
The 70th Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial, and Food Show is poised to display the largest array of agricultural and livestock produce in its history, according to Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Minister Floyd Green.
Highlighting the country’s remarkable achievements in the agricultural sector, Green emphasised that despite facing the hottest year on record, Jamaica managed to produce over 700,000 tons of domestic food last year, marking the second-highest output on record.
Green underscored the success in onion production as a notable achievement.
“When we look at our onion production this year alone against our consumption, we have reached 44 per cent in 2023, so we have far surpassed the figure of 40 per cent we set for the year,” Green revealed.
According to Green, over the past five years there has been a staggering 644 per cent increase in locally produced onions.
The minister stated that the fisheries sector has also seen impressive growth. He noted that its contribution to the agricultural sector increased from nine per cent in 2022 to 14 per cent in 2023.
“Last year, we saw 29.6 per cent growth in our fisheries sector and we produced about 15,000 metric tons of fish valued at J$33 billion, contributing to about one per cent of our GDP (gross domestic product),” he said, adding that significant growth was seen in tilapia production.
Green expressed his enthusiasm for this year’s Denbigh Show, stating, “So you can understand why I am very happy that this year the theme for the Denbigh Show directly aligns with the drive of the ministry, and that drive is to have more investment in agriculture.”
The Government has identified several priority crops for investment, which will be showcased as the ministry continues to drive its ‘New F.A.C.E. of Food’ initiative.
Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) acting Chief Executive Officer Duran Grant highlighted that a diverse range of sponsors and exhibitors have been attracted to this year’s show.
“Over the last three years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of exhibits, especially in the small ruminant and cattle farming communities,” he noted.
Grant also addressed claims regarding the quality of agricultural exhibits today, compared to the past.
“What used to be prize exhibits 30 or 40 years ago are not considered ‘prize’ today. With the upgrade of the breed stock where animals are concerned, you will see different types of breed but you will not see what you would see in the past. If you look at crops, you won’t see those large pumpkins and yams,” Grant argued, contending that modern exhibits are more in line with current agricultural trends and of superior quality.
Hi-Pro President Jaimie Ogilvie, whose company continues to be the title sponsor of the event, expressed excitement about this year’s show.
“This being the 70th year of Denbigh, we are very excited about it. Denbigh continues to be the premier showcase of agriculture in the English-speaking Caribbean, and this year we are focusing more on integrating and exposing the opportunities for investment in the sector,” he said.
The show will be held from August 4-6 at the Denbigh showgrounds in Clarendon, under the theme ‘Investment Opportunities in Agriculture – The New F.A.C.E. of Food … Grow What We Eat and Eat What We Grow’.