Government Is Pulling out of JAS VOL. 28 NO. 1 •
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FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
By Patrick Maitland Editor-The Agriculturalist
embers of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) say they are shocked and “surprised” by the government’s decision to pull out of the governance structure of the 123-year-old society and will cut off its annual subvention of up to $88 million. Donovan Stanberry, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, told the JAS board of management meeting on Jan. 17 that plans are in place to revoke the Jamaica Agricultural Society Incorporation Act of June 19, 1941, which established the society as an agent of the government. The Board was asked to propose a new operational structure, which would exclude the government or its agencies. Stanberry, however, noted that the ministry would settle redundancy and other termination expenses of the JAS’s 64 staff members. Norman Grant, president of the JAS, told The Agriculturalist that it came as a surprise to the board of management of the society that the Cabinet decided to repeal the 1941 Act. “We have since replied to the Ministry asking for further discussions to better understand the consequences of such a decision as well as how those will be addressed and what is the desired timetable,” Grant explained. “The Board is studying the Cabinet’s position which came to us as a surprise.” He added that they would “do what is in the best interest of our farmers, members and other
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Pandohie Chairs JACRA Board
RICHARD PANDOHIE Chairman, Board of Directors Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority
See page 5
NORMAN GRANT President, JAS ‘It came as a surprise’
stakeholders including our staff. The JAS don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of the process at this time.” The new JAS without government support will top the agenda at the Feb. 21 monthly board meeting of the Society. Continued on page 7
2 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
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EDITORIAL
JACRA and stakeholders should unite to save our crops
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fter some five years in the making, the government on new year’s day officially implemented the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Authority (JACRA), which is expected to strengthen the legislative framework to support sustainable development in agriculture, manufacturing, industry, and commerce. JACRA was established with the blessings of five ministers of agriculture, including Roger Clarke, Christopher Tufton, Robert Montague, Derrick Kellier and Karl Samuda under the direction of permanent secretary Donovan Stanberry. The authority replaces and merges the existing Coffee Industry Board, Cocoa Industry Board, the regulatory functions of the Coconut Industry Board and the Export Division of the ministry. These commodities have the potential to contribute up to 60 percent of the island’s export earnings and perhaps 40 percent of the farm jobs market.
The so-called traditional export crops — coffee, cocoa, coconut, ginger, pimento and other spices—have been around for decades and have contributed to the wealth creation of thousands of farmers and families. They have also been significant contributors to the island’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). Taking on the responsibilities of five agencies, JACRA has taken on the formidable task of transforming and growing Jamaica’s traditional crops in an environment that is changing with tricky challenges but vast opportunities. We must preserve the legacy of coffee, cocoa, coconut, ginger and pimento on the international market because they are regarded as among the best products coming out of Jamaica.
FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 3
However, many farmers, agriculturalists, and other stakeholders are not happy with aspects of the JACRA. Among the many criticisms, they argue “the JACRA Act did not embrace the modern environment changes which make aspects of acts obsolete.” In our opinion, most stakeholders are in support of JACRA, but they are very disappointed about aspect of the regulations, arguing that it was not “business friendly” and may become a deterrent to the very crops they were are seeking to promote. However, we are optimistic that someone is listening to the farmers’ concern and are addressing the issues.
With the production and export of coffee, cocoa and coconut and spices at their lowest level of output, we cannot afford for JACRA to fail. But, JACRA cannot survive without a strong pool of farmers and agri-investors producing and trading the crops on a sustainable basis. On the other hand, farmers need a JACRA to create a fair and balanced environment for producers and traders. As much as JACRA is needed to save our traditional crops, it will take a strong partnership with farmers and traders to get the job done. An environment of hostility and turfprotection will not work or benefit the agricultural sector. Therefore, farmers, government regulators and stakeholders organizations should unite to save our traditional commodities. Patrick Mailand Editor-The Agricuclturalist
Fertilizer - An Expense or an Investment?
The opinions expressed in this newspaper, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Agriculturalist and its publishers. Please send your comments or suggestions to editor@theagriculturalist.com. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all articles will be published.
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2. Right Rate – 9 (50lb) bags per acre (8oz per plant (for the year) 3. Right Time – pre-flowering and postflowering 4. Right Place – buried along the leaf drip circle The above meant that Farmer X has just invested $29,000 ($3,300 x 9 bags) per acre at 870 plants. This calculates to $33.33 ($29,000/870 plants) per plant. If the farmer sold his/her coffee at $4,000/box then he/she will earn $600,000 ($4,000 x 150 boxes) while spending $29,000 on fertilizer. Was this an investment or a cost? Continued on page 4
lmost ten years ago when I decided to go into farming/agriculture, I met a gentleman by the name of Webster McPherson. I vividly remember him teaching a group of eager potential Greenhouse farmers in the salubrious hills of Christiana, Manchester telling farmers "fertilizer is not an expense, it is an investment."
Those persons who were already in traditional farming rolled their eyes or grunted disapprovingly at him. We could not comprehend or wanted to understand the ‘craziness' he was uttering. Fast forward a few years later, and I joined Newport Fersan (Jamaica) Limited (NFJ) the premiere fertilizer company in Jamaica as their Sales Manager. As you can imagine the main role of marketing is trying to convince farmers to look at fertilizer as an investment and not an expense. This provocative statement has lingered with me over the years especially when I hear farmers saying fertilizer is ‘expensive.' I have finally decided to take the bull by the horns and step boldly out to give credence to the statement and shed some light as to why Webster was indeed right and not crazy. If you have a sum of money in the bank and continuously withdraw from it without making a lodgment, at some point the bank account will become empty. The soil is not any different; whatever you are planting requires a certain amount of nutrients to reap the benefit. As farmers, we must first appreciate that after years of depleting our soils at some point we have to give back (make a lodgment) if we are to reap the benefits, rewards or gains of our labour. If we are to honestly believe "our wealth is in the soil," then it is only reasonable that we invest to
gain the interest (yields) necessary to make our efforts worthwhile. So let us look at fertilizer, what is it and why is it important? The Oxford Dictionary describes it as "a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility." Its importance in plant growth is to increase fertility in order to increase your yields. But how is the farmer convinced that it is an investment and not an expense? First, he/she should know some fundamentals, what we call the four (4) ‘R's of fertilizing – Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time and the Right Place. For this example Farmer X is planting Irish Potato at a plant density of 17,000 seeds to the acre at an investment (cost) of $6,000 per 50kg bag with the desired minimum yield of 17,000 lbs: 1. Right source – Potato Lizer Starta and Finisha (or exact nutrient requirement – Precise Nutrient Management System) 2. Right rate – 2(50kg) bags of Potato Lizer Starta and 5 (50kg) bags of Potato Lizer Finisha 3. Right time – 2 bags of Starta at planting and 5 bags of Finisha at moulding 4. Right Place – 2 inches from the seeds at planting for the Starta and at moulding for the Finisha The above meant that Farmer X has just invested $42,000 ($6,000 x 7 bags) per acre for 17,000 seeds. This calculates to $2.47 ($42,000/17,000 seeds) per seed.
Send your press releases and photos editor@theagriculturalist.com
By HEDDA ROSE PITTER Business Development Manager Newport-Fersan (Jamaica) Limited
If the farmer sells his/her potatoes at a price of $50/lb he/she will earn $850,000 ($50 x 17,000lbs) while spending $42,000 on fertilizer. Was this an expense or an investment? Let us use another example: Coffee at a density of 870 plants/acre at an investment (cost) of $3,300/50lb bag of fertilizer with the desired yield of 150 boxes per acre. 1. Right source - Coffee Lizer (or exact nutrient requirement – Precise Nutrient Management System)
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Knockalva Agricultural School to be upgraded
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MONTEGO BAY, Feb. 1 (JIS): inister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Ruel Reid, says the Knockalva Agricultural School in Ramble, Hanover, will be upgraded to a polytechnic institution in the very near future. “This school fits very neatly in our K (kindergarten) to 18 strategy. It is now viewed as a post-secondary (institution), and it needs to be reclassified and upgraded to become a full polytechnic, as we have done with the Trench Town Polytechnic. That will attract tertiarylevel programmes, so that the students can achieve better certification and be better aligned to industry,” the Minister said. He was speaking with JIS News following a visit to the institution on Tuesday (January 30). The Minister also visited St. James
High School in Montego Bay, as well as Anchovy High School and Knockalva Technical High School. The Minister said the Knockalva Agricultural School is in the process of “redefining itself”, and whilst the promotion of agriculRUEL REID ture, agricultural science “and all the different skill sets and occupations and professions related to agriculture will continue to be its key focus, other
disciplines such as maritime logistics and business process outsourcing (BPO) are being considered. “We will be bringing education to the community, which was the original concept of community colleges, so you don’t have to go off to Kingston or Montego Bay. Right here in this community, tertiary education will become available to the young people and adults,” he said. “The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) and The Mico University College will also be partnering with them to build them up, and so participants in that programme will get Mico certification depending on what they want to do, or Caribbean Maritime University qualifications or other tertiary qualifications,” the Minister added.
Old Farmers bid farewell to Donovan Hill
Colleagues including Dalton 'Bigbird' Brown and Donald 'Rat Bat' Richards pose with the casket of the late Donovan "Panel" Hill during a memorial service at College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), in Portland
Robert Montague, Minister of National Security (3rd l) shares a light moment with his former college mates and colleagues at a thanksgiving service for senior lecturer in economics and entrepreneurship at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) Donovan "Panel" Hill which was held at the TP Lecky Theater, CASE, Passley Garden, Portland on January 21, 2018. Also in photo (l-r) are Everett Hyatt, Michael Robinson, Winston Jones, Lincoln Davy, Phillip Reid and Nicky Crawford.
ANTHONY 'SLEEPY' BARRETT April 16, 1960-January 25, 2018
Anthony 'Sleepy' Barrett died
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griculturalist Anthony 'Sleepy' Barrett died on Thursday, January 25, 2018 after valiantly battling colon cancer. He was 58. Barrett gave several decades of unstinting and dedicated service to Jamaican agriculture including poultry production working his way from poultry serviceman to divisional manager with Caribbean Broilers Group. The service of thanksgiving for life and work of Barrett will take place on Friday, February 16, 2018 at Webster Memorial United Church, 53 Half-Way-Tree Road, Kingston 10 commencing at 10:00 am. Barrett is survived by wife Marlene, two children Andrew and Anna-Kaye, mother, father and other relatives.
Fertilizer - An Expense or an Investment?
Continued from page 3 Over the years I have not just learned but come to appreciate the best way to convince farmers is through ‘show and tell.' We can take any crop and apply the same principles above to show the returns on his/her investment when purchasing fertilizer. Of course, there are other variables (labour cost, pesticide cost, etc.) to be taken into consideration but the bottom line is that the farmer can now know the correct calculation of their fertilizer investment. Let me thank Webster McPherson for his provocative statement which started this conversation. As NFJ's Business Development Manager, I appreciate the support from our farmers when they purchase the FERSAN brand of fertilizer. There is an even greater appreciation and satisfaction that we get when our team of experts can guide our farmers to realize their best potential and reap the rewards of their labour. Farmers, keep on investing and reaping the wealth that is in your soil. Remember fertilizer is an investment, not an expense! Hedda Rose Pitter h.pitter@newportfersan.com
NEWS
Pandohie chairs JACRA board
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FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 5
By Patrick Maitland Editor-The Agriculturalist hief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Seprod Limited, Richard Pandohie, has been appointed chairman of board of directors of the recently established government regulatory agency, Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), effective Jan. 1, 2018. Other board members appointed by Agriculture Minister Karl Samuda are: Coconut farmer Steven Black; Coffee grower John Minott; Cocoa farmer Glendon Davis; Principal Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Shaun Baugh, and Attorney-at-law at the Ministry, Evette Southerland-Reid.
Gusland McCook, Acting CEO
The acting CEO of the outgoing Coffee Industry Board, Gusland McCook, was appointed acting director general of JACRA. The Authority replaces the existing Coffee Industry Board, Cocoa Industry Board, the regulatory functions of the Coconut Industry Board and the Export Division of the ministry.
RICHARD PANDOHIE Chairman, Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA)
APPOINTMENTS
Courtney Cole:
Project Manager and former acting CEO of Agri Invest Corporation has been appointed Chief Technical Director/Special Project in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries effective January 8, 2018.
Kevin Condappa:
Director of Agri-Business and Market Distribution at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries was recently promoted to Director of Agricultural Services replacing Sando Pike who is on pre-retirement leave.
Get your copy of
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GUSLAND MCCOOK Acting CEO, JACRA
According to Minister Samuda, JACRA will be responsible for the development, regulation, promotion, and standardization of the agricultural commodities industry.
6 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
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FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 7
JB launches the Caribbean largest Pellet Mill
he Jamaica Broilers Group has commissioned a third pellet mill at its feed mill at Freetown, St. Catherine. The US$2 million investment will increase the production capacity to 350thousand tonnes per year, making the facility the largest feed mill in the region. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on December 14, 2017 Christopher Levy, President & CEO of Jamaica Broilers Group said “the growth in the local poultry and egg industries begins with good quality animal feed. And the Hi-Pro pellet mill is where vegetable protein is converted into digestible protein so farmers can grow healthy animals.” He noted that the dairy industry was also growing, with the conversation around breeds and better production. “This shows that the agricultural sector cannot be taken for granted. Farmers are the backbone of this country as they provide more employment than any other sector. Therefore, our mission at Jamaica Broilers is seek to facilitate the sustainability of the island’s small farmers, because when the farmers grow, we grow,” Mr. Levy said.
Agriculture Minister Karl Samuda (4th l) joins executives of the Jamaica Broilers Group (JBG) in celebrating the launch of the company’s third pellet mill operations at Freetown, St. Catherine on December 14, 2017. The US$2 million investment will increase the production capacity to 350-thousand tonnes per year, making the facility the largest feed mill in the region. Also in photo (l-r) are John Carberry, General Operations Manager, Best Dressed Feeds Mill; Christopher Levy, President & CEO, JBG; Robert Levy, Chairman, JBG and Conley Salmon, President, Jamaica Operations, JBG.
Levy said that Jamaica Broilers Group was now a multi-billion dollar operation in three countries which began 60 years ago by producing 10-thousand
chickens a week, moving to 12thousand birds a day. But he pointed out that the company’s core business remained in Jamaica.
port services to farmers in need,” he noted. However, the recent reestablishment of the PMO has been blamed for the almost 50 percent decline in paid-up membership dues for the JAS during the 20162017 year. As of March 2017, JAS paid-up membership stood at 2,316 compared with 4,389 at the end of the 2016 period. The Society’s overall revenue jumped to $104.3 million as a result of an estimated $9 million each in subventions/grants from Government and surplus from self-financing activities. The Government contribution of $88.7 million remained the most significant contributor's to the JAS revenue. With some $500 million in assets -- including lands and building, as well as stocks and bonds -- agricultural stakeholders are worried that the withdrawal of government support could be leading to the demise of JAS, which continues to represent the interest of thousands of farmers as well as the staging of the
Caribbean premier agricultural exhibition, Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show. The JAS was formed in 1895 under the instruction of the then Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Henry Blake, to stimulate interest of all categories of farmers in the island in agricultural pursuits, and to establish a forum where all farmers could meet, discuss their problems to initiate plans, elect officers and to do all other things necessary for the welfare of the farming community. It is the oldest most deeply rooted organization in rural agricultural development in the Caribbean. However, the Jamaican parliament passed the “Jamaica Agricultural Society Incorporation Act” of June 19, 1941, establishing the JAS an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to serve as an umbrella organization consisting of varied affiliated commodity boards and associations. The Act has been amended in 1968, 1978 and 1996.
Government Pulling out of JAS
Continued from page 1 Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Agriculture, JC Hutchinson, told The Agriculturalist that he was not aware of any plans by the government to shut down the JAS or to immediately stop its financial support in favour of another organization. The Minister explained that they (Gov) were simply “echoing the sentiments” of the public that the JAS “should undergo management and operational changes as the present structure is not adequately serving the farmers.” A strong advocate for the Producers Marketing Organization (PMO), Hutchinson noted that he is also a supporter of other farmers’ organizations/lobby groups, including the JAS, as there are spaces for each group to operate as they seek to address the needs of farmers. “It is not the aim of the government to shut down farmers’ organization, but rather to partner with them in the delivery of sup-
Over the past five years, sales of Hi-Pro chicks and broiler feeds have increased by about 20 per cent, with layer feeds having grown by 10 per cent.
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Currently Hi-Pro has about 60 per cent market share of all feeds sold in Jamaica.
Nutraceuticals will not generate much wealth for Jamaica
carce Commodity - an organisation dedicated to exploring the economic benefits of a regional ganja industry, says pursuing nutraceuticals alone from ganja, will not generate much wealth for the country. Dr. K'adamawe Knife, Coordinator for Enterprise Development and Strategic Planning at Scarce Commodity, says more money can be made by extracting certain active ingredients in ganja and putting them in functional foods. Meanwhile, there are plans to list at least three companies dealing in ganja products on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Dr. Haughton, says he is working with the Jamaica Stock Exchange to develop a nano stock exchange. He said the ganja companies will be listed through that nano stock exchange. The nano stock exchange which is scheduled to be launched later this year, will allow consumers to purchase stocks and bonds using a mobile device ———————————————
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Jamaican Teas sees 9% rise in profit after tax
amaican Teas says profit after tax rose nine per cent from $47 million to $51 million in the first quarter ending December 2017. Sales increased by 22 per cent from $374 million in 2016 to $456 million this quarter. Earnings per share after discontinued operations moved from 6.8 cents in 2016 to 7.6 cents. -Source: radiojamaica.com
8 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
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FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 9
Agri ministry provides $4200m for farm roads and assistance to farmers
Karl Samuda (c) Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, tours banana farm of Winsome Crosdale (r) in Canewood, Portland on on February 1, which was severely impacted by the flooding caused by the recent rains. Minister Samuda was accompanied by representatives of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, including Peter Thompson (l), chief executive officer, and Michael Stern (in the background), chairman. According to Crosdale, some 40 per cent of the mature fruits on the 10acre property were lost, the irrigation system was disrupted and rubble from the Swift River was deposited on to the property. Minister Samuda said by the end of March 2018, $320m will be spent on the repair of farm roads islandwide. In addition, $100m will be provided in assistance to farmers who were impacted by the recent flooding in the most devastated areas. The agriculture minister advised that of the $420m, Portland will be receiving just under $25m for repair of farm roads and $30m from the Ministry’s Productivity Incentive Scheme towards assistance for farmers who were severely affected by the flooding.
RADA fast-tracking assistance to farmers
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hairman of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Michael Stern, said his agency is fast-tracking assistanc to some 298 farmers affected by flooding in Portland. Addressing a farmers’ meeting at the Orange Bay Church of God of Prophecy in the parish on February 1, following a tour of the flood-ravaged farms, Stern said “RADA is committed to working with you to make an impact on the economic development.” Member of Parliament for West Portland, Daryl Vaz, assured that “we’re going to try and help all who have suffered damage to get back on their feet.” He hailed Newport-Fersan Jamaica Limited for its contribution of fertiliser to the farmers, and appealed for further private-sector support. He mentioned that China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Limited has been called on to desilt some areas of the Swift River. Meanwhile, Vaz, who is Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, said that the Government will be examining every parish to “see what leases the Commissioner of Lands has for large parcels of land for farming”. “Where we see that they are not being utilised to the maximum, we will allow the lessee to keep what he can manage and redistribute by way of lease one- to five-acre lots, for the small farmers of Jamaica,” he said.
BANANA AND PLANTAIN VALUE-ADDED FACILITY:
Donald Elvey (l), General Manager of the All-Island Banana Growers’ Association, shows J.C. Hutchinson , Minister with out Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (r), and banana farmers equipment to be installed at the newly constructed banana and plantain value-added facility, built under the Jamaica Banana Accompanying Measures Programme, at Trinity in St. Mary during a tour of the facility on February 2.
10 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
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Hague Show focuses on ‘climate smart practices’ HAGUE AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK SHOW
he Trelawny Association of Branch Societies of the Jamaica Agricultural Society will be hosting the 62nd annual Hague Agricultural and Livestock Show on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at the Hague Show Grounds in Trelawny. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Karl Samuda will be the guest speaker. Under theme For Sustainable Livelihood, Restore the Love for Agriculture
through Climate Smart Practices, the Hague Agricultural Show, organised by the Jamaica Agricultural Society, is a staple both in the parish and the national calendar and is a forerunner of the other parish agricultural shows, which will take place throughout the year. The Hague Show over the years showcases agricultural produce and livestock focusing on farmers in Trelawny and surrounding areas as well as highlighting their continuous hard work and
labour of love that they put into the farming sector. The show will also feature activities from Trelawny Farm queen contestants, Jamaica 4H Club, horticultural display, a children village, farmers market and a culinary demonstration by the local chef in food preparation. A stage show featuring a live band as well as a gospel concert will provide entertainment for showgoers.
The primary sponsors include Ministry of Agriculture Industry Commerce and Fisheries, Hi-Pro Farm Supplies a subsidiary of Jamaica Broilers Group and T Geddes Grant. Participating stakeholders include Fersan, H&L Agro, St. Jago Farm Supplies and many more. Several Trelawny based agriculture companies will also display their products such as Advance Farm, Valley Fruits, and King Pepper.
Restore the Love for Agriculture through Climate Smart Practices
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By Norman Grant President, JAS n behalf of the Jamaica Agricultural Society and its board of management, we are enthused that the Trelawny Association of Branch Societies carries the mantle of staging the 62nd Annual Hague Agricultural and Livestock Show schedule for February 14, 2018, under the theme “For Sustainable Livelihood, Restore the Love for Agriculture through Climate Smart Practices.” The Hague Show over the years showcases agricultural produce and livestock focusing on farmers in Trelawny and surrounding areas; highlighting their continuous hard work and labour of love that they put into the agricultural sector as the parish hosts 9,294 of the total register farmers that accounts for 4.7% of our national register farmers. With the focus on highlighting the importance of agricultural sustainability through the adaptation of climate-smart practices; farmers and stakeholders in the sector should seek to learn strategies and the best methods for mitigation against potential disasters.
Tropical Farmers’ Almanac GET YOUR COPY OF THE
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As last year heavy and continuous rainfall cause flooding and damages to the agricultural sector and infrastructure accumulating to over $500 million Jamaican dollars.
As the voice of the farmers of Jamaica; the JAS continues to provide support on various opportunities for growth and the support systems available to achieve that growth in the agriculture sector.
Carlton Smith Champion Cattle Farmer
SAVE JAMAICA FARMLAND PROJECT
Jamaica most fertile farmlands are disappearing T WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 11
he parishes of St Catherine, Kingston and St Andrew in the east and Clarendon to the west have some 43,617 hectares of the island most fertile land that is considered suitable for agriculture.
These soils are divided into three categories namely class 1 with an acreage of 9,091 hectares with no limitation hindering production, class 2 with an acreage of 11,273 hectares of land with moderate limitations to production and class 3 with an acreage of 23,254 hectares with strong limitations to production such as being highly erosive, has poor drainage and the soils are very shallow. The crops suitable to be grown on class 1-3 lands are mostly banana, sugar cane, citrus, coffee cocoa, coconut, rice, pimento, tobacco, pineapple, ground provision, fruit trees, livestock inclusive of beef, mutton, pigs goats. However mixed farming is the dominant farming practice throughout the parish. However over the last 50 years those lands considered suitable for agriculture has been significantly reduced due to urban encroachment. The figure for urban encroachment as moved from 729 hectares to 14,166 hectares which indicates a whopping 100 percent increase in urbanization. This further indicates that over 32.5 percent of those lands that should be reserved for food production have been dominated by the demand for housing. If this trend continues by the next 20 years over 50 percent of all arable lands in St Catherine will be out of agricultural production, hence our 2030 Vision goal of “enhancing local food production,” will be a pipe dream as most of our most productive lands will be gone into housing. One of the major reasons for this is that most of our prime agricultural lands are not in production hence these are the lands being targeted by developers as these lands are cheaper for acquisition and
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oils are complex mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and countless organisms that are the decaying remains of once-living things. It forms at the surface of land – it is the “skin of the earth.” Soil is capable of supporting plant life and is vital to life on earth. Soil, as formally defined in the Soil Science Society of America Glossary of Soil Science Terms, is: The unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants. The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the earth that has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors of: climate (including water and temperature effects), and macroand microorganisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time. So then, what is dirt? Dirt is what gets on our clothes or under our fingernails. It is soil that is out of place in our world – whether tracked inside by shoes or on our clothes.
cheaper to be handled. Major roads also border most of these lands with easy access to water and electricity. It is therefore recommended that the powers that be draft legislation to protect arable lands that they be not left idle but be in production at all times.
About our soil – Class 1-3 The breakdown of the soils found in the parishes are as such: The soils on the upland that is the steeper section of the island are Diamond clay loam, Donnington gravelly loam, Flint River sandy loam, Halls Delight channery clay loam these are excessively to well drained, shallow and highly erodible with low to moderate fertility. Halls Delight channery clay is more fertile in small outcrops and is mostly found in poor pasture or peasant cultivation.
By MARVALEE WALKER Land Capability Planner Agriculture Land Management Division cathotcenter@yahoo.com
What is soil?
The mid-section of the parish occupying the lower slopes are predominantly red and are classified as St Ann clay loam which vary from flat to very steep, are excessively well drained with fertility occurring on top thin layer of organic matter which has poor water retention, doughtiness and high erodibility. The soil types in this section of the parish are Lucky Hill clay loam, St Ann clay loam in association with Bonygate stony loam which displays a well-drained top soil with a poorer draining subsoil of variable depth with good water retention and has fair to high natural fertility. Carron Hall clay loam also occurs in this area and is fairly well drained, has good water holding retention capacity, low erodibility but its shallow depth on these steeper slopes is a serious limitation to crop production. The more productive soils are those found on the plains and are arrears of recent alluvium with a loamy or sandy texture. These soils are inclusive of Lluidas gravelly sandy loam, Caymanas clay loam and sandy loam whish are of extensive acreage and occurs in the Plains .These soils are excessive to well drained and are of high natural fertility. These soils as mentioned before are extremely productive when irrigated. Their main limitation however is lack of structure due to overproduction. Whim sandy loam and clay loam are alluvials found on flood plains on some of the minor rivers with drainage been good to moderate depending on texture, have high natural fertility and are not prone to erosion. Other soils occurring in the plains have salinity issues, drainage problems and erosion problems.
Houses now on prime farmlands in St. Catherine
Dirt is also soil that has lost the characteristics that give it the ability to support life – it is “dead.” Soil performs many critical functions in almost any ecosystem (whether a farm, forest, prairie, marsh, or suburban watershed). There are seven general roles that soils play: Soils serve as media for growth of all kinds of plants. Soils modify the atmosphere by emitting and absorbing gases (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and the like) and dust. Soils provide habitat for animals that live in the soil (such as groundhogs and mice) to organisms (such as bacteria and fungi), that account for most of the living things on Earth. Soils absorb, hold, release, alter, and purify most of the water in terrestrial systems. Soils process recycled nutrients, including carbon, so that living things can use them over and over again. Soils serve as engineering media for construction of foundations, roadbeds, dams and buildings, and preserve or destroy artifacts of human endeavors. Soils act as a living filter to clean water before it moves into an aquifer.
Soil Profile
There are different types of soil, each with its own set of characteristics. Dig down deep into any soil, and you’ll see that it is made of layers, or horizons (O, A, E, B, C, R). Put the horizons together, and they form a soil profile. Like a biography, each profile tells a story about the life of a soil. Most soils have three major horizons (A, B, C) and some have an organic horizon (O).
The horizons are: Soil Profile O – (humus or organic) Mostly organic matter such as decomposing leaves. The O horizon is thin in some soils, thick in others, and not present at all in others. A - (topsoil) Mostly minerals from parent material with organic matter incorporated. A good material for plants and other organisms to live. E – (eluviated) Leached of clay, minerals, and organic matter, leaving a concentration of sand and silt particles of quartz or other resistant materials – missing in some soils but often found in older soils and forest soils. B – (subsoil) Rich in minerals that leached (moved down) from the A or E horizons and accumulated here. C – (parent material) The deposit at Earth’s surface from which the soil developed. R – (bedrock) A mass of rock such as granite, basalt, quartzite, limestone or sandstone that forms the parent material for some soils – if the bedrock is close enough to the surface to weather. This is not soil and is located under the C horizon.
12 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
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FAO Regional Conference for Montego BayMarch 5-8
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By Chrishane Williams
Chrishane.Williams@fao.org
ising hunger and obesity, climate change and rural poverty; these will be the main issues of the 35th Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The 35th Conference will take place from 5-8 of March 2018, in Montego Bay and is FAO’s main governing body. Agriculture Ministers from all of FAO’s 33 member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean will come together in Jamaica to set the Organization’s priorities for the next two years. The meeting will be attended by FAO’s Director General, José Graziano da Silva and Ministers of Agriculture, Education, Social Development and Environment from the region. According to FAO, this year’s Conference is of particular importance, since, for the first time in decades, hunger is once again on the rise in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Tackling rising hunger and obesity According to FAO, hunger has risen again in Latin America and the Caribbean for the first time in decades, reaching 42.5 million, while obesity affects 96 million people. The FAO Conference is a unique opportunity for countries to call for an immediate and large-scale push, without which the region will not be able to reach the second Sustainable Development Goal: zero hunger by 2030.
Putting an end to rural poverty Rural poverty reduction has declined in the region. Currently, more than 20% of rural inhabitants cannot afford a basic food basket. Thousands of people are migrating to and from countries, escaping violence, lack of opportunities, poverty or environmental risks. The FAO Regional Conference will allow countries to share public policies that increase the pace of rural poverty reduction, thereby revitalizing rural areas both economically and socially.
Promoting climate resilient sustainable agriculture According to FAO, Latin America and the Caribbean must produce more, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing sustainable practices to adapt production systems to new climatic conditions. The Regional Conference will allow countries to promote a fully sustainable agriculture, resilient to climate change and better prepared to face natural disasters.
The Smiling Veterinarians:
Jamaica’s senior veterinarians smile for the camera (l-r) General manager, Serge Island Farms, Dr. Gavin Bellamy; Windalco’s Veterinarian Dr. Clover Mattocks; Senior Veterinarian, Jamaica Broilers Group, Dr. Michael Motta; Senior Veterinary Officer, Jamaica Horse Racing Commission, Dr. Sophia Ramdal; and Veterinary specialist at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries, Dr. Kevin C. Walker were speakers at the Jamaica Dairy Development Board Stakeholders’ Conference held on December 15, 2017 in Kingston. The conference aimed to sensitize and receive feedback from stakeholders on the future development pathway for the Jamaica dairy industry.
Veterinary Services Diagnostic Lab Accredited for Testing of Fish:
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda (second left), hands over the accreditation certificate for the Veterinary Services Diagnostic Laboratory (VSDL) to Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Osbil Watson (third left) during a ceremony at VSDL’s offices on Old Hope Road in St. Andrew on January 31. Others (from left) are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley; Chairman, JANAAC, Simon Roberts; and Quality Manager, VSDL, Tricia Fraser.
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FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 13
PIG HUSBANDRY LECTURE SERIES
Hi-Pro recently launched a lecture series on Pig Husbandry at the Ebony Park Heart Academy. The Hi-Pro veterinary team kicked this project into high gear by presenting each student with a copy of the Hi-Pro Pig Feed & Management Guide, being used as part of their training syllabus. A number of copies were also gifted to the institution library as a resource on best practices. In photo (l-r) Robert Green, director principal, Ebony Park HEART Academy; Selma Khani, Senior Instructor Livestock, Michael Motta, Senior Veterinarian, Hi-Pro; Sasha Shim-Hue, Deputy Manager, Ebony Park HEART Academy, and Claude Wilson, Pig Production Specialist, Hi-Pro.
Frosty pod rot disease spreading in cocoa farming areas
I Nutramix signs major cattle semen deal Calves born through the use of artificial insemination from a cattle farm in Clarendon
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utramix has inked a deal with American firm Select Sires under which the Jamaican company will distribute highly fertile, superior genetics for cattle across the island and the throughout the Caribbean. Nutramix pointed out that while it started distribution of genetic semen from Select Sires on a small scale locally in June 2016, the deal that was recently signed is offering a wide range of breeds and sires to customers. “Select Sires is recognised worldwide as one of, if not the leading supplier of top quality genetics for cattle,” Dr Gabrielle
Young, livestock and support manager at Nutramix, said. “Partnering with a company with this reputation signifies the high quality and standards that Nutramix already exemplifies. Through the distribution network that Nutramix already controls within the Caribbean with feed, we can add superior quality genetics for cattle that is badly lacking in the Caribbean.” Dr Young explained that the popular breeds for dairy and beef are Jersey, Holstein, and Brown Swiss for dairy, and Black and Red Angus, Brahman, and Simental for beef.
t is being reported that the frosty pod rot disease which has emerged in some cocoa producing areas in Jamaica is spreading. Sunneal Wilson, Chief Plant Quarantine Produce Inspector in the Ministry of Agriculture, said according to a recent survey of seven cocoa producing parishes, the disease has been identified in Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Andrew and St. Mary. There is concern that it is spreading in St. Mary with reports that about 67 per cent of the parish's cocoa production being affected. "St. Mary is one of the major concern (sic) for us because St. Mary is actually the parish that produces the hallmark flavour for the cocoa or what we call premium cocoa flavour that give (sic) Jamaica its high price for actual cocoa that goes into making chocolate," said Ms Wilson, who was speaking on Tuesday at a JIS Think Tank. Portland and St. Thomas have not been affected by the frosty pod rot disease. A statement last month from the Agriculture Ministry said a number of measures had been taken since confirmation of the disease locally in August 2016. The Plant Pest Emergency Response Team was activated. The Frosty Pod Rot Order 2016 was enacted to curtail the spread of the highly
infectious fungus. Several activities were also conducted including stripping, pruning and spraying, while more than 500 farmers were sensitized in the affected areas of Clarendon, St. Mary, St. Catherine and St. Andrew. The Agriculture Ministry will increase training and sensitisation sessions in cocoa producing parishes as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the frosty pod rot disease. This is scheduled to begin in St. Mary this month. The parish has the largest acreage of cocoa farms in Jamaica.
SANNIEL WILSON Chief Plant Quarantine and Produce Inspector
14 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 15
Newly Implemented FDA Produce Rules Offer Food Safety Startups a Boost
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www.agfundernews.com CALIFORNIA: roduce farmers from the Salinas Valley to the Hudson Valley are beginning to make sense of a new set of rules that regulate how they do business. The first compliance date for the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Rule was January 26, 2018, and farmers, entrepreneurs, and extension agents are quickly adapting to its standards. This year, produce farms with annual sales over $500,000 have to come into compliance, while smaller businesses have longer to update their operations. The new rule establishes protocols for how produce farmers harvest, wash, package, and store fruits and vegetables usually consumed raw. Standards for microbial water quality, biological soil amendments, managing livestock and wild animals, health and hygiene, and equipment, tools and building make up the majority of the law. Some experts doubt whether the rule will reduce instances of food-borne illness in a meaningful way, and many small-scale farmers worry about the costs of coming into compliance. The FDA estimates the initial costs of meeting requirements like water testing, enclosed packing houses, and record keeping could range from $5,027 to $23,382 for small operations – something farmers have worried about since the produce rule was first announced in 2015. But for agrifood tech companies developing products to monitor food safety, the produce rule looks good for business. FSMA first became law in 2011 as a strategy to prevent, rather than treat, foodborne illness.
A comprehensive overhaul of food safety law, the act gave the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate how food is grown, harvested, and processed. The produce rule, first enacted in 2015, outlined the first regulations for fruit and vegetable markets, which previously hadn’t been subject to much oversight. The law establishes standards for everything from managing grazing animals in fields to the surfaces used to wash fruits and vegetables. For the California growers that produce the majority of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, compliance with the FSMA Produce Rule looks like business as usual, as large operations generally keep detailed records for operational, foreign trade, and liability purposes says Patrick Zelaya, the CEO of HeavyConnect, a company that provides dig-
ital documentation tools to large-scale farmers. “We’re already following very stringent food safety standards,” he said. The produce rule requires extensive data collection and documentation around activities like harvest preparation and water testing. Growers have to keep meticulous and regular records, a process most often carried out on paper. HeavyConnect developed its digital documentation mobile app in response to requests from growers looking to streamline their processes in light of the new laws. Most of the growers Zelaya works with have already been following safety standards similar to the requirements of the new rules. The bigger challenge in California is understanding exactly what the regulations and repercussions are.
ess than two weeks after President Trump slapped new tariffs on imports of solar panels and washing machines, China has launched an investigation into a key U.S. agricultural export. Chinese authorities said Sunday they would examine whether the U.S. is unfairly subsidizing exports of sorghum, a crop that is used to feed livestock and make a liquor that's very popular with Chinese drinkers. Preliminary information showed "extensive dumping" of U.S. sorghum at lower
than normal prices, China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement. That has caused "material injury" to Chinese farmers, it added. China is the largest buyer of American sorghum products. It imported about $960 million worth last year, according to Chinese customs data. "Sorghum is a good target for a trade dispute since it would have a major financial impact on the U.S.," said Loren Puette, director at ChinaAg, an agricultural research firm.
Squeezing the sorghum trade would hurt the U.S. rural economy, where Trump has a lot of support, he said. But other more significant exports grown by U.S. farmers are likely to escape action for now, Puette added. China is the biggest buyer of American agricultural products, and a large part of that is soybeans. China bought $14 billion worth of them in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
he Philippines has lifted the import ban on poultry products from two areas in Belgium. Importers can now resume buying poultry from the municipalities of Oostkamp and Menen in West Flanders province. The
Department of Agriculture (DA) banned poultry imports from Belgium in August last year due to an avian influenza outbreak in the European country. With the lifting of the ban, the Philip-
pine government would resume the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance of domestic and wild birds and poultry products from Belgium.
SINGAPORE: esource-scarce Singapore is turning vacant pockets of land into space for urban farming as the island city strives to ease its reliance on imported food. The wealthy Southeast Asian city-state imports more than 90 percent of its food, much of it from neighboring countries, which
can leave it exposed to potential supply chain disruptions. Edible Garden City, a company with a grow-your-own-food message, has designed and built more than 50 food gardens in the tropical city for clients ranging from restaurants and hotels to schools and residences. One of its projects is Citizen Farm, an
8,000 square meter plot that used to be a prison, converted into an urban farm “where the local community can learn and grow together”, according to the project website. Citizen Farm produces up to 100 kg of vegetables, 20 kg of herbs and 10-15 kg of mushrooms - enough to feed up to 500 people - a day.
China: Cheap American grain is hurting our farmers
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Philippines lifts ban on poultry imports from Belgium
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Singapore turnsvacant space into urban farms
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Andrea Veira - CARDI Rep in St Lucia
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ndrea Veira has been appointed the new CARDI Representative in St Lucia. Andrea is currently finalising her PhD thesis on “Agro–ecological techniques for sweet potato production in the Caribbean.”
Andrea Veira
She also holds a Masters of Arts in Education from the University of Derby, a Postgraduate Diploma in the Teaching of Science and a BSc in Biology with Education from The University of the West Indies (UWI), Barbados. Prior to joining CARDI she held various tutoring positions at The UWI Cave Hill Campus and taught at secondary schools in St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados. As the CARDI Representative she will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives and other partners to implement the national agricultural agenda which has a strong focus on the production of roots and tubers, coconuts and vegetables. ———————————
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Florida fighting screwworms
Florida, USA: n recent months, Florida has faced both Zika virus and hurricanes. Now, the Sunshine State must defend itself against one more natural scourge: flesh-eating worms of unknown origin. After the US Department of Agriculture confirmed a local infestation of New World screwworm in Key deer on September 30, state Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam declared an agricultural state of emergency in Monroe County, the home of Key West. Despite its name, the adult screwworm is actually a fly, and it typically lays its eggs in an open wound on an animal. Infected animals usually separate from their herd and, if left untreated, die in seven to 14 days from toxicity or secondary infections.
Pasture (grass) feeding for cattle
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ver the past year, the Jamaica Dairy Development Board established several hundred acres of improved pasture grass on farms throughout the island. These grass varieties include Mulato 11, Mombasa and Cayman Grass. The grasses were established mainly across dairy clusters in St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth Pasture grazing is the natural means of feeding cattle. Cattle and other ruminants do well when fed quality forage. Supplementation with grains and minerals support increased production of both meat and milk. Pasture Management Tips
• Pasture is the most abundant and cheapest feed for cattle.
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CAYMAN GRASS: With a tillered growth habit, the Cayman grass produces abundant stolons. Cayman grass provides the following: more meat, more milk with enhanced nutritional quality; higher stocking rate; highly palatable; stoloniferous growth; tolerant to drought; resistant to diseases and pests and also resistant to moist soils.
• Well managed pastures can supply cattle with most of the necessary nutrition and energy.
• By grazing lush grassland, cattle take in adequate protein, energy, vitamins and minerals (unless soils are very low in certain important trace minerals). • Quality of pasture depends on a number of factors, including: - Type of plants grown - Level of maturity of plants at harvest - Adequate moisture during growth - Soil fertility - Fertilization
MOMBASA GRASS: The grass is a tall grass, similar to hybrid Napier grass in habit, but far more leafy and is very suitable for cut-and-carry. It is a very productive leafy grass, producing between 20 and 40 t/ha dry matter per year. Mombasa can be either rotationally grazed or set stocked. Management depends on the farmer’s experience.
For further information contact:
JAMAICA DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD Hope Gardens, Kingston 6 Tel: (876) 618-7107 • Fax (876) 977-9230 • Email: dairyboard@micaf.gov.jm
TECHNOLOGY
The New Technology Solution for the Loss of Agricultural Products
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By Elisha Shalgi www.israelagri.com ccording to FAO, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, there is today a loss of about 45% of agricultural products world-wide, as a result of inaccurate ripeness measurements.The reason for this situation is that these check-ups are carried out manually and are not standardized. ClariFruit is a startup at a seed stage, introducing a revolutionary yet simple approach for measuring the ripeness of fruits – e.g., grapefruits, and vegetables – e.g., 'cherry' tomatoes. Obviously, ripeness includes such parameters as freshness, durability, and taste. Today, there is no universal standard for the above-mentioned parameters. There are only local standards. The company has recently entered this lacuna. This, in introducing a breakthrough technology. The aim of this breakthrough technology is to facilitate check-ups of fruits and vegetables ripeness grade in such a way that these check-ups become simple, straightforward, common-place, and last but not least cost-effective. Today, there are a few means at the disposal of the people who make up the food supply chain – whether they are growers, wholesalers, retailers and even the consumers themselves – for measuring fruits and vegetables ripeness. This, in order to determine the ripeness grade of fruits and vegetables. Generally speaking, these means are stand-alone means, each verifying only one parameter, e.g., color, dry matter, size, sugar content, etc. With ClariFruit technology one could measure all the above-mentioned fruit and vegetable parameters and more. For example, the fruit’s BRIX, acidity, firmness, dry weight, color, size, stains, variant and more. What's more, the user is able to determine his or her exact location (which is retrieved
FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 17
ClariFruit Introducing a revolutionary simple approach for measuring the ripeness of fruits
from the user's cell-phone, which has a built-in Global Positioning System-GPS), weather conditions, and date and time of the measurements. These data are instantly uploaded to a cloud data base and are then analyzed by an innovative, tailor made BigData algorithm. The ClariFruit technology integrates with SCIO sensor, produced by 'Consumer Physics' company, and is based on near
Infra-red light beam-based, handheld molecular probe, which actually measures internal fruit properties like, for instance BRIX, dry weight, acidity, etc. In addition, in using the smartphone's high-resolution photographic possibilities, one can also acquire external attributes of the fruit/vegetable under examination, such as color, size, form, etc.
And, as already mentioned, all sampling data, as well as additional statistical information and reports, are available online for post-sampling and post-production analysis (traceability), the result of which is that the process of decision-making at all stages of the food supply is made easier! At the moment Clarifruit's algorithm supports only 'cherry' tomatoes and grapefruits.
Research helps make insurance available to smallholder farmers
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arming is an uncertain and risky business, especially for poor smallholders in remote areas of developing countries. However, a new study shows how data gathered by satellite could help poor farmers manage their risks more effectively through index insurance. The Weather Risk Management Facility (WRMF), created by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), conducted a project in Senegal from 2012 to 2016 to test whether remotesensing technology could advance the drive to make insurance available to smallholder farming households. The project received financial support from the Agence Française de Développement and an additional contribution from the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office. Index insurance, a type of agricultural insurance, uses data rather than in-field assessment to determine when crop losses occur. The new WRMF study focused on developing and testing indices using satellite data - obtained through remote sensing – to try and overcome challenges with only using data on the ground. The indices would then be used in an index insurance contract to protect against drought or other production risks.
Ground-breaking research helps make insurance-available to smallholder farmers
Using this data, a yield loss could be captured automatically, triggering payouts. As global population and the demand for food continue to rise, it is essential to support the world’s 500 million smallholder farms, which are responsible for much of the food produced in developing countries. Though they make a big contribution to global food security, small farmers have difficulty developing sustainable practices as climate conditions change. Too often they lack the knowledge, access to credit or other financial tools necessary to invest in adapting to cli-
mate uncertainty and they struggle to maintain yields or increase productivity. The project, Improving Agricultural Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Remote Sensing for Index Insurance, explored ways in which the construction of dependable index insurance products would help these smallholder farms to manage risks related to climate. The publication describes the project in detail, and will give people working in insurance, agricultural development and government an overview of how remote sensing can assist index insurance and the hurdles to be overcome, as well as recommendations on where further work and investment is needed. Index insurance can circumvent the costly journeys and arduous, long-term loss assessments that prevent insurance providers from offering coverage to rural farms, thus lowering administrative costs, making it affordable and accessible to smallholder farmers. Using remote sensing technology to develop index insurance with accurate data could enable efficient payouts to rural farmers. With further investment and research, satellite data could transform agricultural insurance and help it become a valuable risk management tool for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Source: www.ifad.org
MIRACLE PLANTS
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CLA issues first two Cannabis licences
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By Ainsworth Morris istory was created recently with the issuing of the first two licences by the Cannabis Licensing Authority of Jamaica (CLA) for local entities to legally operate in the cannabis industry. CLA Chairman, Hyacinth Lightbourne, said the occasion represents the start of what will be a thriving medicinal ganja industry in Jamaica. CLA is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, established in 2015 under the Dangerous Drugs Act with the power to make and oversee the implementation of regulations for licences, permits and other authorisations for the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and transportation of ganja for medicinal, scientific and therapeutic purposes. Everyting Oily Labs was presented with a processing licence, while Epican received a licence for cultivation, during a press conference held at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce,
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Chairman, Cannabis Licensing Authority of Jamaica, Hyacinth Lightbourne (left), presents Director and Secretary, Everyting Oily Labs, Claudine Liu, with a cannabis licence, at a press conference on Oct 18, 2017, at the offices of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries in New Kingston.
Israel to fund research for medical cannabis crops
Jamaican Mint
1.Satureja viminea atureja viminea or Costa Rican Mint is another name for the Jamaican mint which is also called “Pepper Mint.” The Satureja viminea is not a true peppermint plant and its aroma is described as serpentine savory. Unlike the well-known peppermint herb, this plant has a woody stem, upright growth and keeps a bushy shape. The Jamaican mint can be trained into a small tree reaching 6-7 ft in height. Peppermint typically grows in moist habitats including stream sides and drainage ditches. Being a hybrid, it is usually sterile, producing no seeds and reproducing only vegetatively, spreading by its rhizomes. It grows best in areas of low sunlight, with a good supply of water, without being water-logged. It is used mainly as a tea to soothe stomach aches and for gas. The Jamaican mint is also used for baths and body gels which cool and tingle – invigorating the body and lifting the spirit. The fragrance of the Satureja viminea is pure and very intense. Peppermint has a high menthol content. The oil contains menthone and menthyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate. Peppermint oil also contains small amounts of many additional compounds including limonene, pulegone, caryophyllene and pinene. It is the oldest and most popular flavour of mint-flavoured confectionery and is often used in
Agriculture and Fisheries in New Kingston. CLA Chairman, Hyacinth Lightbourne, said the occasion represents the start of what will be a thriving medicinal ganja industry in Jamaica. “Although it has taken some time to get to this historic occasion, we have remained committed to getting it right and to ensure that Jamaica’s stake in the global medicinal cannabis industry is never compromised and remains sustainable. During the process, we have endeavoured to remain in dialogue with our applicants every step of the way, and we are confident that they have satisfied the rigours of the regulations,” she said. Lightbourne informed that another three applicants have been granted licences and are completing their requirements to be issued. In addition, 57 are at the conditional approval stage, and another 209 applications are being processed.
tea and for flavouring ice cream, confectionery, chewing gum, and toothpaste. Peppermint can also be found in some shampoos, soaps and skin care products. Peppermint has a long tradition of medicinal use, with archaeological evidence placing its use at least as far back as ten thousand years ago. Peppermint is commonly used to soothe or treat symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, irritable bowel, and bloating. One animal study has suggested that Peppermint may have radioprotective effects in patients undergoing cancer treatment. The aroma of peppermint has been found to enhance memory and alertness, although other research contests this. Source: The Tropical Farmers Almanac
TROPICAL FARMERS’ ALMANAC THE
‘Everyday Guide to Successful Farming’ ORDER YOUR COPY - 923-7471 Tel: (876) 923-7471 • E-mail: editor@theagriculturalist.com www.tropicalfarmersalmanac.com
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SAFED, ISRAELI: he Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will finance research in the field of medical cannabis, in what it says is a pioneering step that will allow researchers to do basic and applied research to develop the tools and infrastructure for a new generation of medical cannabis products. In collaboration with the Health Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry has allocated a NIS 8 million budget ($2.1 million) to finance research in the field of medical cannabis growth, biochemistry and medicine. Thirteen projects have been chosen, the ministry said, among which are the identification of new strains of cannabis; the use of cannabis to improve vision, fight intestinal cancer and boost the body’s acceptance of transplanted organs; the improvement of watering and fertilizing of the cannabis plant; and the development of ways to combat cannabis plant diseases and pests.. The use of medical marijuana is gaining popularity around the world, the ministry said, with re-
search backing up its beneficial effects. The growth of the plant, however, must undergo strict quality control and research in the sector is essential, the statement said. Medical cannabis is provided to patients for relief from symptoms and pain, as well as physical and mental stress. The international medical cannabis market is forecast to be worth approximately $20 billion within a decade, and some 1% of the global population are estimated to become potential medical cannabis users at some point during their lifetime. Israel is well-known as a pioneer in medical cannabis. Last summer, the government approved a plan initiated by Health Minister Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) to relax some of the medical cannabis requirements. The plan aims to expand the number of doctors who can issue cannabis prescriptions, remove limits on the number of marijuana growers, make cannabis available at approved pharmacies, and possibly eliminate the requirement for a permit from the Health Ministry so that just a doctor’s prescription will be sufficient.
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ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 19
Meet the insects that maintain agricultural produce in Israel
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he Agricultural company, "beauty of Vegetables" from Ein – Yahav in south Israel, is the largest vegetable producer in the country. The company manage to ensure clean vegetable production by a process that reduces the use of pesticides to a minimum global standard by a combination of laboratory tests and biological control using insect predators. To protect the vegetable crops the farmers are using a cocktail of four predatory insects that feed on vegetarian insects. The predators cover the farms throughout the season and hunt the harmful vegetarian pests.
The cocktail contains the wicket Orius laevigatus, the Svirski, the Presimillis and parasitic wasp that protects the crop from the pests. The above mentioned "good" insects do not harm the vegetables because they are not interested in the plant itself. The vegetables are washed well before marketing, as part of the quality control of Ein Yahav Company to make sure no insect "could catch a ride on a vegetable." The Biological control combined with supervision of laboratory services is taking representative samples from the field - all throughout the process of growth- and
prior to marketing, to avoid any elements of spraying or any bacteria. The growers are using new equipment that allows the identification of hundreds of pesticides in a single test, combined with the detection capabilities of any "single" residue of chemical unit hidden in a trillion other vegetable components. Ein Yahav vegetables are not picked without a "clear" accreditation from the lab authorities. After harvesting the vegetables are strictly controlled and each vegetable should be reviewed for all international standard quality parameters sorting for export or local food industry.
The company is an Agricultural Cooperative Society which includes 90% of the farms in Moshav Ein - Yahav. The marketing volume is estimated at 34 thousand tons, half of it to local markets in Israel with the other half being exported to Europe and the United States.
Organic Fertilizers and their benefits
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Students digging the soil at Bustamante High School Farm, Clarendon as part of the The Rita Marley Foundation (JA) Organic Farming Training Programme for kindergarten and high school students. The programme is facilitated by U.S based agricultural consultant, Steven Herbert.
Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement
The Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization created to foster an organic agriculture industry in Jamaica.
Mission: To facilitate the development of a sustainable and economically viable organic agriculture sector in Jamaica while maintaining organic integrity, promoting health, environmental consciousness, and social responsibility
Objectives Include: • Lobby for and assist in the development of an effective local organic agriculture industry • Assist local producers who are interested in the conversion to and certification in organic agriculture ————————————————————————————
Raymond Martin - Chair P.O. Box 5728, Kingston 6 Jamaica W.I. joam@joamltd.org; 1-876-564-3770
rganic materials in the garden are more environmentally friendly than traditional chemical fertilizers. Unlike commercial chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizer for gardens is typically made of single ingredients and can be matched to your garden’s particular nutritional needs. The types of organic fertilizer can come from plant, animal or mineral sources, depending on what chemicals your garden requires. In order to qualify as an organic fertilizer, the materials must naturally occur in nature. Fertilizer for organic gardening isn’t the quick and instant fix that chemical fertilizers can be. With organics, you have to let moisture and beneficial organisms break down the content of the fertilizer material in order for the plants to get to the nutrients inside. In general, half of the nutrients in an organic fertilizer ingredient can be used the first year it is applied, and the rest of it is slowly released in the years to come, feeding and conditioning the soil.
Why Use Organic Manure? Using organic manure will help you grow the healthiest vegetables. Organic manure can come from lots of different sources – it is simply best to use what is easiest for you to get. There are three types of organic manure: animal, green, and wood ashes. Using some of each will give your garden the best possible soil and grow the best vegetables. Organic manures in the garden will release half their nutrients the first season and half the next season, so they feed the soil slowly over time. Adding organic materials to the soil does more than just add nutrients; it will improve moisture retention, help with drainage, and improve the soil structure.
Organic manure will also insure that your plants will have all the nutrients that they need to produce top quality produce.
Cover Crop Manure Green manure can be made in a couple of different ways. You can plant a cover crop which you will let grow for a season, then cut and till under. Cover crops can also be grown and cut and added to a compost pile to be used later on the garden. The advantages of this type of crop are that it will choke out weeds, it will improve the soil once it’s tilled under, and it will help with soil erosion. The disadvantage is you can’t plant in that area until the cover crop is finished and tilled under. Some of the best cover crops are cow pea, beans, clover, hemp and alfalfa. All of these crops are excellent sources of nitrogen and will also provide other nutrients to your soil.
Animal Manure The next type of organic manure is animal. This type of fertilizer can be found from friends with horses, cows, chickens, rabbits, goats, and even bat poop! You might even try the local newspaper or bulletin board for people wanting to get rid of extra manure. Animal manure is also bagged and sold at most gardening centers.
20 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
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Slight Toxicity
Ectoline Spray LARVICIDE SPRAY HEALING & ANTIMICROBIAL
Always exercise caution and wear proper safety gear when handling, preparing and using pesticides; keep out of reach of children. Refer to Product Instructions for correct usage.
Available at Hi-Pro Farm Supplies and leading farm stores islandwide. Telephone: 984-7918/619-1302
Larvicide Spray, healing and antimicrobial agent Active Ingredients: Fipronil, Silver Sulfadiazine, Aluminium For preventing and treating screwworms. Aids in preventing Myiasis in general wounds, surgical wounds, eg. Castration, dehorning, peeling, branding, etc, also in cracks in hoofs, and in treating calves’ navels.
Knowledge Page Ectoline takes on the dreaded Screwworms
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ECTOLINE IS USED IN THE PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND CONTROL OF SCREWWORM INFESTATION (MYIASIS) IN ANIMALS he New World Screwworm (NWS) Features of Ectoline Spray: Cochliomyia hominivorax, is an insect • Curative treatment for Myiasis pest endemic to Jamaica affecting warm• Excellent Anti-parasitic Larvicidal spray blooded animals and humans. • Usually only ONE application necessary NWS cause widespread economic wound treatment for losses in livestock production as well as • Acts in the prevention of Myiasis in pain and suffering to animals and humans from castrations, tail docking etc. wounds when untreated wounds are infested with • Great for navel wound management in maggots otherwise known as Myiasis. livestock Recurrent economic cost and loss in • Contains Anti-microbial properties livestock production due to NWS are sub• Promotes wound healing stantial. Total losses due to mortality and • Coats and protects wound for an extended increases in the cost of production are an period estimated US$5.5 million - US$ 7.8 mil• Cost-effective and affordable lion annually. • Minimal hazard for user The adult female fly lays once in a lifetime and can lay 100 to 400 eggs in a CURRENTLY AVAILABLE clutch, in open wounds or areas on skin AT HI-PRO FARM SUPPLIES conducive for the hatching and development of larvae. When larvae emerge, they feed on living tissue of the host animal. References: Wounds infested with larvae (magEconomic Impact of Eradicating the New World gots) usually become a site for secondary Screw-Worm from Jamaica. “Vo, Trang T.” bacterial infection and if ignored or un1998 For the prevention, treatment, and stock and companion animals (cats and treated the animal can eventually die from control of Myiasis ECTOLINE is a pre- dogs). the condition. mier Larvicidal /Antibiotic spray for live-
Increase Your Yields with Drip Irrigation Additionally, installing a drip irrigation system allows you to: • Improve crop yields • Control fungal diseases • Better apply fertilizers through the use of fertilizer dispensers • Eliminate soil erosion • Use a system designed to work with all types of terrain and soil conditions Drip irrigation is great for row crops such as carrots and peas, and also for watering trees and shrubs or a series of containers, you’ll probably want to set up a more sophisticated system.
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Courtesy of Jamaica Drip Irrigation hink of an automated system delivering the right amount of water (and nutrients) to your plants for the ideal amount of time — that is drip irrigation. Studies show that well-designed drip irrigation systems use at least 30 percent, and in some cases up to 50 percent, less water than other methods of watering such as sprinkling. Almost no water is lost through surface runoff or evaporation and soil particles can absorb and hold water for your plants. It also means very few nutrients leach down beyond the reach of plant roots.
Furthermore, since drip irrigation delivers water directly to the plants you want to grow, less is wasted on weeds. The soil surface between the plants actually remains drier, which discourages weed seeds from sprouting. For busy farmers, the main benefit of drip irrigation is the saving of both time and money. Drip irrigation systems eliminate the need to drag around hoses and sprinklers. For systems that use a timer, farmers need only spend a few seconds to turn the system on and the timer will automatically turn off thus saving on costs for water in the long run.
Although each system is designed according to specifications such as type of crops, land and water source. The general components are a main control head, filtration, fertigation, main lines, sub mains and lateral drip lines. The best part is that drip irrigation systems can be scaled to fit your needs whether you have a home garden, lawn or a large farm. Jamaica Drip Irrigation has been the leading provider of drip irrigation systems across Jamaica for over 30 years. Talk to us about how you could become our next satisfied customer!
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22 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • FEBRUARY- MARCH 2018
Banana export increased by 525%
FOOD PAGE
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peaking at a recent “Banana Day” observations to officially close the 4-year Banana Board Grant Contract For Technical Services 2, Janet Connie – General Manager, The Banana Board listed the achievements of the project. These include: exportation moved from 78 tonnes in 2013 to 411 in 2016, a 525% increase resulting in a jump in export income from JM$7.12M to JM$47.76M and achieving higher prices in the Caribbean and North American markets. Banana yield productivity increased by 43% from 9.3 tonnes/hectare in 2011 to 13.3 tonnes in 2017. Overall banana/plantain productivity increase of 26% Banana Board and 52 farms achieve GlobalG.A.P. certification increasing access to markets by assuring food, worker and environmental health and safety Created 150 new jobs while sustaining 22,800; contributing 13.7% of agricultural labor and 2.46% of total labour market Fruit quality standards maintained between 92.6% and 98% of units within specification, exceeding the 90% target.
BANANA INDUSTRY POISED FOR GROWTH AND JOB CREATION:
In photo (l-r) Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz; Ricard Bardia, Head of Operations at the European Union Delegation; Janet Conie – General Manager, The Banana Board and Roger Turner – Chairman, The Banana Board at the recent “Banana Day” observations to officially close the 4-year Banana Board Grant Contract For Technical Services 2, funded by The European Union.
7 Wonderful Benefits of Banana
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n instant energy booster, banana is one fruit that is commonly available across the globe. A look into the nutritional breakdown of bananas and it reveals the following: per 100 grams, it contains 0.3 gm total fat, zero cholesterol, 1 mg salt, about 360 mg potassium, 2.6 gm dietary fiber, 12 gm sugar and 1.1 gm protein. If you still need reasons as to why you must include bananas in your diet, here are some 1. High Fiber Content-Banana is loaded with fiber, both soluble and insoluble. The soluble fiber has the tendency to slow down digestion and keep you feeling full for a longer time. Which is why bananas are often included in a breakfast meal so that you can start about your day without having to worry about the next meal. 2. Heart Health-High fiber foods are said to be good for the heart. According to a study done by University of Leeds in UK, increasing consumption of fiber-rich foods such as bananas can lower risk of both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD). 3. Ease in Digestion-According to Ayurveda, banana has a sweet and sour taste. The sweet taste is said to bring about a sense of heaviness but the sour taste is known to stimulate agni (the digestive juices), thereby supporting digestion and helping in building up metabolism. 4. Powerhouse of Nutrients-Banana is a heavyweight when it comes to nutrition. It is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium,
manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and B6. These all contribute to the proper functioning of the body and keeping you healthy. benefits-of-banana-how-to-include-inyour-daily-diet-2 5. High Source of Potassium-The high content of potassium in bananas makes it a super fruit. This mineral is known for its numerous health benefiting properties - it helps in regulating heartbeat, blood pressure, and keeps the brain alert. 6. Blood Pressure-It is a known fact that salt is the evil when it comes to high blood pressure. Bananas have low salt content and high potassium content, and these properties contribute to making it ideal for those undergoing this condition. 7. Helps Fight Anaemia-Due to the high iron content in bananas, they are good for those suffering from anaemia. Anaemia is a condition where there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood. This leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, and paleness.
Visit The Coconut Shop for Coconut Water, Coconut oil & Confectionaries 18 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10 Tel: 926-1770-2
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 pm
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