Tue | Oct 22, 2024

Jamaica Broilers Group Commits Millions to Denbigh

Published:Thursday | June 2, 2016 | 3:23 PM
Contributed
Christopher Levy (seated right), president and chief executive officer, Jamaica Broilers Group gets ready to sign an MOU with Norman Grant (seated centre), president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society. At left is David Butler, CEO of Digicel who also signed an MOU of support for Denbigh. Witnessing the signing are (from left) Elon Parkinson, head of Public Relations, Digicel; Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries; Christopher Emanuel, CEO, Jamaica Agricultural Society; Donovan Stanberry, Permanent Secretary in the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries; Dayne Patterson, business development manager, Hi-Pro and Robert Levy (right), chairman of Jamaica Broilers Group.

The Jamaica Broilers Group - through its Hi-Pro brand - has renewed its commitment to provide sponsorship of more than $60 million over the next three years to the annual Denbigh Agricultural & Industrial Show. This is in addition to Hi-Pro's sponsorship of the Hi-Pro Denbigh Gospel Extravaganza over the past seven years, which is in excess of $20 million.

A memorandum of understanding of its recommitment was signed on June 1 by Christopher Levy, president and chief executive officer of the Jamaica Broilers Group, and Norman Grant, president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, at the launch of Denbigh 2016 held at Hi-Pro, White Marl, St Catherine, and witnessed by Dayne Patterson, business development manager, Hi-Pro.

Chairman of the Jamaica Broilers Group, Robert Levy, spoke about the challenges being faced in agriculture and the importance of Government defending the local industry through strong support and not protecting it merely through subsidies.

Dayne Patterson said there has been tremendous growth in poultry production, with small farmers across the island reaping rewards. He said that with the strong pricing for pork products, pig farmers have been experiencing "good times".

Patterson noted that Hi-Pro recently held a series of agronomy seminars, in partnership with BASF Chemical Company and Diamond R fertilisers, at which over 1,000 small farmers were trained in the proper application and use of pesticides and fertilisers. "The feedback was incredible and confirms the need for continued education and empowerment of our farming communities," he noted.

The Hi-Pro business development manager said his organisation would be taking its current rewards promotion to Denbigh, which would give farmers a chance to win their share of over $12 million in prizes. The promotion which will run from February to August this year, has already rewarded just under 50,000 farmers.

"Denbigh promises to be another step forward for agriculture and we, at Hi-Pro, are committed to supporting the Denbigh brand as it maintains its standing as the largest agricultural show in the Caribbean," Patterson said.