The Agriculturalist Newspaper by Patrick S Maitland

ERADICATE

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Denbigh Show 2020 cancellation causes $2B lost Story on Page 6

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LESLIE CAMPBELL Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries

Campbell Replaces JC Hutchinson “This is a very serious and important Ministry. I am willing to put my hours in time. So long as we have the work to do, I will be there. I seek the assistance of all stakeholders to give my best”

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E ED DIITO TOR RIIA AL L

Better management of our land resources A

n estimated 100,000 hectares of Jamaica's most arable and irrigated lands are going idle as large-to-mediumscale farmers, including cane cultivators and sugar factory operators, are downsizing or closing operations. These idled and underutilized lands include some 55,467 hectares that are being managed by SCJ Holdings. According to the agency, 36,649 hectares of those lands encompass crops and other economic activities via lease arrangements with private investors and farmers' groups island wide. Sugar cane was indeed the king of Jamaican agriculture, accounting for more than half of the labour force and among the island's top foreign exchange earner. A decade ago, annual foreign exchange revenue from sugar was US$94.14 million compared to a mere US$13.75 in recent years.

PATRICK MAITLAND Publisher - The Agriculturalist patrick@theagriculturalist.com

The economic fallout is already hurting the Jamaican economy and is expected to have far-reaching implications on the island's ability to generate scarce foreign exchange and job creation. However, the demise of sugar is not a surprise to farmers and other stakeholders as the government, through various initiatives, including the poorly managed $15 billion Sugar Transformation Programme, has been preparing farmers for the day when sugar is no longer king. Nevertheless, with several thousand available acreages of lands, this is an opportunity for Jamaica to diversify and transform its agricultural production. Land resources are urgently needed to support new and emerging industries such as bamboo, cannabis, castor bean and cotton to encourage the production and utilization of these products into manufacturing.

More lands are needed for domestic and traditional food production, as Jamaica is facing a significant food deficit with imports now over the US$1 billion mark. The land of wood and water is importing most meat, milk, grains, and cereals to feed hungry people. The need for additional land space to achieve more significant economies of scale in production output has always been the concern for farmers. However, housing and other infrastructural development get first preference over most farming enterprises. The land grabbing and random distribution of large parcel of lands to political operatives are recipes for economic disaster in years to come. The government should adopt better management of our land resources to satisfy the need for housing and other infrastructural development while preserving the island's most arable lands for agriculture and food production.

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.

OPINIONS

Small farmers must be market-responsive! J

amaica's agricultural food system is transforming. We see the increased concentration in processing, trading, marketing and retailing in all supply chain segments. The traditional way we approach agriculture, without farmers having a clear idea in advance of when, to whom, and at what price they are going to sell their crops, is being replaced with far greater coordination between retailers and others in the supply chain. Consumers are also becoming more demanding in terms of quality, safety, and costs. The result is the demand for convenience foods such as fresh, pre-cut, pre-cooked, and ready-to-eat items. The supply chain must adapt to reflect these demands. These trends offer considerable threats for our farmers, especially small, asset-poor, and disorganized farmers across the country. Jamaica's small farmers are an essential component of our economy. Alternatively, their performance and methods have not progressed very much despite various governments incentive programs over the years. While we continue to import certain fruits and vegetables, putting more acreage into production can help import substitution. We must

decrease the import value of fruits and vegetables. Before the growth of supermarkets and increased importation, the marketing of fruits and vegetables was traditional and conventional: the farmer marketed his produce. The modern approach is that the marketing channel is characterized by several intermediaries, which result in high marketing costs and marginalization of the small farmers. These farmers are 'separated' from the 'market centers' in the informational sense; market signals are not trickled down to the farm level. Therefore, farmers are not market-responsive. Consequently, the sector suffers from poor standards and inconsistent supply problems. Jamaica's poor agriculture infrastructures further aggravates the problems. At the distribution end, the retail industry has moved rapidly in parallel to the change in our economy. This is the growth of supermarkets as the major retail centers for consumers to buy food and the growth of importers supplying the hotel sector. This development, however, poses a challenge to the traditional distribution network. The new structure demands fast and efficient delivery, graded produce, high and consistent

This new approach to the supply chain would have contract agreements with supermarkets and hotels, and others. They would also have a contractual agreement with their members/farmers to supply the inputs at competitive prices.

By VICTOR CUMMINGS Chief Operating Officer Jamagro Tech Farms Ltd.

Send your press releases and photos editor@theagriculturalist.com

quality of produce and consumercentered marketing strategies. It is against this background that our policymakers, researchers, and others need to recognize that the traditional government program that concentrates on building up farmers' production capabilities are no longer sufficient to ensure sustainable income and productivity growth. Production support activities must be linked to market demand. Production activities must be examined within the context of the whole supply chain and the linkages, or business relations, within that chain. The suggestion is that a new approach to the supply chain network is needed, one that safeguards the interest of small farmers. Local farmers' associa-

tions or cooperatives should be encouraged to act as collectors, packers, and transporters of fruits and vegetables.

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NEWS

Former JSA lecturer Lloyd Berchel Plummer Former JSA lecturer and mathematician extraordinaire, Lloyd Berchel Plummer, died on July 18, 2020, in Montego Bay. He was 84. After the closure of the Jamaica School of Agriculture in 1982, Plummer lectured mathematics at Sam Sharpe Teachers' College and the Montego Bay Community College. Details on the homegoing service of thanksgiving for Plummer's life and work will be announced later. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw (left) and Board Chairman, Hardware & Lumber (H&L), Erwin Burton, greet each other by knocking elbows. Occasion was a ceremony for the handover of agricultural inputs by H&L Agro to small farmers, held recently at the the H&L outlet located along Spanish Town Road, Kingston. -PHOTO: YHOMO HUTCHINSON

H&L Agro donates $2 M in agricultural inputs to farmers By Ainsworth Morris, JIS ardware & Lumber (H&L) Agro has donated $2 million in agricultural inputs to assist small farmers who have been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The inputs, which include fertilisers, pesticides and seeds, were handed over to Minister of Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw, on May 21, at the H&L outlet located along Spanish Town Road, Kingston. The donation completes the company’s $10-million relief package, which included product discounts of up to 30 per cent for all farmers during April and May. Minister Shaw thanked the company for the support to the farming community during the current crisis. He said that the assistance is “consistent with the Government’s commitment to restoring the livelihood and economic stability of our farmers within their respective communities and ensuring Jamaica’s food security”. Shaw said the Government is targeting an increase in production to serve local markets. “As an immediate response, the Government has provided $240 million as part of its assistance programme to redistribute the excess produce from our farmers,” he noted. For his part, Board Chairman, H&L, Erwin Burton, said the company is committed to assisting small farmers affected by COVID-19, particularly the restriction

of movement and closure of markets across the island. “A lot of us are the products of small farmers. That’s where the strength of the family is, right at the small farmer level, and we have to help that structure and that strength of the family to remain, because when that fails, there are a lot of other associated problems,” Mr. Burton noted. He added, “When I look at what has happened to our small farmers right now, they’re taking a ‘belly blow’ and that is where H&L Agro is prepared to play its part.” Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), H&L, Olive Downer Walsh, said that the mission of the entity is to support farmers across Jamaica. “We are going further than just donating supplies; the farmers can also count on our technical expertise to ensure that they yield the very best results from their crops. With the additional challenges they have faced in recent weeks due to COVID 19,

support from planting to reaping has never been more critical,” she noted. The support provided by H&L Agro will give small farmers a jump start towards regularising production, following the restriction of movement and closure of markets across the island. Farmers should begin reaping crops as early as 70 days from transplanting seedlings. H&L Agro is one of two operating divisions of H&L, which is Jamaica’s largest retailer and wholesaler of building materials, home improvement supplies and agricultural inputs. There are five H&L Agro stores across the island providing technical solutions, retailing and wholesaling of agricultural and gardening products. The other division, H&L Rapid True Value, supplies retail and wholesale building materials, home improvement and household items, through 10 stores across the island.

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Farmers’ Almanac 2020 876-923-7471 editor@theagriculturalist.com

Donald Martin wife died The CASE Alumni Association conveys sincere and heartfelt condolences to Ole Farmer Donald "Dino" Martin (Class of 1977) on the recent passing of his wife, Pearl Martin, July 18, 2020, in West Palm Beach, Florida. If you wish to commiserate with the family personally, you may contact Donald at (561)714-5727 or by email at mypearl61@yahoo.com. Details of the homegoing service of thanksgiving for the life and work of the late Pearl Martin will be announced later.

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NEWS

Hutchinson apologises for ‘errors of judgement’ in Holland Estate deal J

The embattled Minister with responsibility for agriculture in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, JC Hutchinson, has been stripped of his responsibilities by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

.C. Hutchinson has issued an apology to the Prime Minister, the Jamaica Labour Party, his Cabinet colleagues and the people of Jamaica for what he said were errors of judgement in relation to land transactions involving the Holland Estate. Hutchinson said his actions were never designed for personal benefit but to preserve the Holland Estate lands for small farmers. The statement said: “There was a real risk that without strong and decisive action the lands would have been overtaken by squatters and stray animals as has happened in the past.” “I therefore acted out of my perception that the proper course, of having the Agro Investment Corporation handle the transition to small farmers, would have been ineffective.”

“I was wrong. The course of action I chose cannot be defended. Though my goals were noble, the procedure I used was flawed and the ends do not justify the means.” “Throughout my long career in public life, I have acted with probity and adhered to high standards of conduct.” “I trust that my contribution and the sincerity of my apology for this error is self-evident and that, in the end, I will be judged by the totality of my contribution to public life.” Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Friday relieved Hutchinson of his responsibilities in the Agriculture Ministry with immediate effect. In a news release, Holness announced that Hutchinson had been transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Wright prepared to take SCJ Holdings to court O

Victor Wright Opposition Member of Parliament

pposition Member of Parliament Victor Wright has said he is now prepared to take his fight with SCJ Holdings to court. The longstanding problem relates to lands Mr. Wright and other former sugar workers occupy in Westmoreland. SCJ Holdings has contended that Wright is on the land illegally as a notice of eviction was issued to him in 2014. Chairman of SCJ Holdings, Danville Walker, revealed that the entity will be instructing its attorneys to file a claim in the Supreme Court seeking to recover possession of the property. However, speaking recently on Power 106, Mr. Wright said before he heads to court, his attorneys have written to Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry Dermon Spence, demanding a meeting to get a clear understanding of SCJ Holdings' position on the sale and purchase of the property.

Wright, whose letter was delivered on Monday, argued that instead of "releasing things to the media," Managing Director of SCJ Holdings, Joseph Shoucair, should write to the parties involved informing them of a clear position. "If you are evicting, then evict. If you want possession your property, say you want possession your property. But from my end, and the documents that we have and that the other residents have, SCJ is now giving lands and they are settling with other persons who have nothing to do with sugar, they didn't work a day in sugar. And for us here at Fontabelle and Yeast plant that worked and that toiled, I am awaiting to see... because whatever Danville (Walker) and others choose to do, they are not doing it to Victor Wright, they have to do it to all 50 of us," he declared. He said the other former sugar workers will also be writing to the permanent secretary requesting a similar meeting.

Farmers granted permission to stay on Golden Grove lands F

armers who currently occupy government lands in St. Thomas following the closure of the Golden Grove Sugar company will be allowed to remain on the property. Joseph Shoucair, Managing Director of the Sugar Corporation of Jamaica (SCJ), made the announcement Thursday during a meeting with farmers in Golden Grove. Shoucair said the farmers can enter lease agreements. "The farmers on the land who wish to stay on

the land will be regularised where they are. They will not be required to move. They will be given proper lease agreements on terms that is acceptable to them. Secondly, there is group of farmers that want to be placed elsewhere, and they too will be placed elsewhere with leases," he announced. Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry, who was present at Thursday's meeting, said she intervened in the interest of the farmers because of a "potential breach of peace" after the farmers were given notice to vacate the lands.

The notice was dated July 4, with the terms being that the farmers were to leave the lands by July 28 in respect of certain crops and October 15 in relation to other crops. She said her team met with the police to inform them of the developments and also sensitised the farmers "of the process before anybody in Jamaica can be removed from land."

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NEWS

Denbigh Show cancellation causes $2B lost T

he Jamaican economy is expecting an estimated $2 billion loss because of the cancellation of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show 2020 in May Pen, Clarendon. According to the president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Lenworth Fulton, the decision not to hold what would have been the 68th staging of the Denbigh show, was due to coronavirus restrictions. Fulton says the organisation has lost $40 million and parish branch societies some $500,000. The president says the entity suffered other losses due to the pandemic leaving it in a bad financial position. "We rent places to make revenue, and because of COVID-19,

several tenants have had it hard. Some have moved out of the premises...So yes, it has impacted us. You see, government subvention to the JAS only pays the staff.” Fulton added that, “Nothing else that we do at the JAS comes from government resources, which will come to an end in another year because we're transitioning into a fully private farmers' organisation again."

PURSUING COOPERATION WITH COLOMBIA Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw presents Colombian Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Diana Aguilar Pulido, with a gift during a courtesy call at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Minister Shaw met with H. E. Diana Aguilar Pulido to discuss the possibilities of pursuing cooperation with Colombia in several areas of trade, in particular, assistance with the export of spices to Colombia.

Owners of idle lands encouraged to lease for agricultural production By Alecia Smith, JIS tate Minister for Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, is encouraging owners of unused arable lands to enter into an arrangement with the Government to have these properties leased for agricultural production. Speaking at a webinar on exploring investment opportunities in agri-business, hosted by Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) on July 22, Mr. Green said through an agricultural land-matching programme under the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), the Government will assist interested agricultural landowners in leasing their lands to suitable investors/farmers. The State Minister was responding to a question posed by a participant from the Jamaican Diaspora. “Contact the AIC; we will take that hassle from you. We will do the process of leasing that land to put into agricultural production. So, if you’re interested, if you have agricultural land and it’s not making any resources, you want to do something with it. If you are willing to lease it to a farmer who is willing to put it into production, the AIC can do that for you,” he assured. Green further informed owners of agricultural lands of the “hand-holding services” JAMPRO provides for those looking to enter into partnerships for direct investment in their property. “JAMPRO can work with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to see

Floyd Green,State Minister for Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries

if they can pair you with any investor that may be interested in investing but they don’t have the land…[to] see how we can bring the two of you together, so that we can start some production,” he noted. To qualify for this assistance, landowners should own at least 100 acres and be seeking to transfer agricultural lands via lease or other tenure arrangements to suitable investors/farmers.

The mandatory requirements to complete this process are an application fee of $5,000; copy of photo identification and taxpayer registration number (TRN); Tax Compliance Certificate (if applicable); copy of the title or deed of the property; Articles of Incorporation or organisational documents (for companies); and two referees with contact information (must be either a justice of the peace, credit union manager, bank manager, member of Parliament, medical practitioner and or principal (primary, secondary or tertiary educational institution). Interested landowners, both locally and in the Jamaican Diaspora, can apply to the AIC. The application form is available for download at and should be completed and submitted with the relevant supporting documents to info@agroinvest.gov.jm. Application forms are also available at RADA offices islandwide and the AIC’s corporate office located at 188 Spanish Town Road, Kingston 11. For more information, persons can call (876) 764-8365 or (876) 923-9268. As part of its mandate of promoting and facilitating agri-business investments, the AIC, which is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, provides property management and commercial leasing in a bid to engender increased agricultural production and farm profitability.

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NEWS

Politicians criticised for using land issues as 'political football' Courtesy of radiojamaica.com enworth Fulton, President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), has admonished politicians for using land ownership and access as a political football. Fulton said ministers continue to get into trouble with land distribution because governments have failed to reform the land distribution system. He declared that agricultural lands should not be an income stream for government. Fulton was commenting on the two matters relating to land deals in the public domain involving SCJ Holdings and former minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Agriculture J.C. Hutchinson and Opposition member of parliament Victor Wright. He said, similar to the British system, large investors and small farmers should be given lands for production, from which the government would benefit through the collection of taxes. "But instead, they are creating an income stream to go into budget from how they lease the land. Look on the confusion we face. You have the Commission of Land, a corporation sole. You take away her authority by creating Agro-Invest, SCJ Holdings, UDC - all sorts of entities that are dealing with land when you have a

Lenworth Fulton President, Jamaica Agricultural Society

Hugh Johnson President, Small Business

state agency under law who would not have been making these errors if you had left it to them. And therefore, we are bundling and fighting over these resources," Mr. Fulton contended while speaking Tuesday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica programme. "The only bi-partisan thing that I think work in Jamaica is government and the Opposition building houses on agricultural land. Anywhere you see one government

breaking ground, you see the opposition there irrespective of who is in power. So they both agree that the best use of agricultural land is to build structures on it. So I think if they come together and say the best use for agricultural land is to give it...to serious farmers with a condition that the farmers develop the land along the lines of government policy," he declared.

Meanwhile, Hugh Johnson, President of the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ), has said the interests of small farmers continue to be ignored by those in authority. Johnson, who is also a farmer and has been at odds with the government regarding the development of the Bernard Lodge lands in St. Catherine. He agrees that farmers should be given lands for production and contended in relation to SCJ Holdings that "a body that has been established to help farmers do better (has been) destroying the livelihood of farmers." Johnson, who was also a guest on Smile Jamaica, went further to comment on the matter relating to opposition member of parliament Victor Wright, who has been accused of capturing state-owned lands. He argued that the Prime Minister went out "on a limb to say something and it has been refuted in the public space with documentary proof that he is correct, (so) those responsible for giving the Prime Minister incorrect information should be sanctioned."

Jamaica records 12% increase in sweet yam T

here has been a 12 per cent increase in sweet yam production under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ Production Incentive Programme for the 2019/20 fiscal year when compared to the corresponding period of 2018/19. Acting Senior Director of Production Marketing and Special Projects at RADA, Collin Henry, informed that a total of 55 of the 130 hectares of the produce has been reaped, producing 800 tonnes valued $150 million. “This the farmers can use to be able to care of themselves and their families. To date, we have spent approximately $30 million dollars on sweet yam,” Mr. Henry explained. A total of 500 farmers are involved in the growth of sweet yam across the island in South St. James; Endeavour and Madras in St. Ann; James Hill and Thompson Town in Clarendon; Mile Gully in Manchester and South Trelawny, which is often times referred to as the Mecca of yam production in Jamaica.

Henry, who has oversight for sweet yam, which is one of the nine crops being targeted under the $1.6-billion programme, indicated that the crops are imperative to safeguarding Jamaica’s food security.

“The growth of sweet yam among the farmers has also managed to secure employment in rural communities,” he added.

He also indicated that the growth of sweet yam, as well as the other crops, will help to reduce rural to urban drift and contribute to rural development, sustaining rural farmers and their families.

“This is the reason the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries and RADA have taken this holistic approach to provide farmers with clean planting material and other inputs to max-

imize production and productivity so that we can obtain market access both locally and internationally,” Mr. Henry continued. Under the Production Incentive Programme, other crops such as ginger, dasheen, hot pepper, Irish potatoes, onion, strawberry and cassava are being targeted for development. The aim is to increase and sustain agricultural production to meet market demand. Over 4,000 farmers will benefit, directly and indirectly. Farmers have also benefitted from technical expertise through training sessions, meetings and field demonstrations. The agency has also provided material support by distributing planting materials, agricultural chemicals such as insecticides and fungicides, plastic mulch, irrigation and spraying equipment.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS Threatening Australia's banana industry

Feral pigs are spreading Panama TR4 A

ccording to Australian Banana Growers' Council deputy chair, Leon Collins, feral pigs are spreading Panama TR4, a devastating fungal disease with no treatment. The disease has spread to four farms in the Tully region in Queensland. "Once you get it on your property that's it, you cannot plant bananas there ever again. You have to grow another crop," he said. "Pigs have been the major factor of spreading it between these farms. Pigs know no boundaries." Bananas are Australia's largest horticulture industry with an estimated value of about AUD$1 billion; most of the industry is in far north Queensland,

which also has problems with feral pigs. Banana growers and the state government have jointly funded a control programme since 2017 which has seen 6000 feral pigs taken out. The programme costs about $160,747 per year and funding will run out over the next year. Reports on national feral pig management coordinator Heather Channon says authorities are in the midst of putting together updated estimates. Dr Channon is developing a national action plan for feral pig management, which is due for completion by the end of January.

USDA’S Coronavirus payments to farmers creep to $7 Billion By Chuck Abbott armers and ranchers have received $7 billion of the $16 billion earmarked for assistance, an increase of $218 million from the previous week, said the on Monday. say the Aug. 28 deadline for applications should be extended and that the government should revise Livestock producers have reits eligibility rules and the payment ceived half of the aid money, $3.54 limit of $250,000 per farmer or enbillion, with cattle getting the bulk tity. of that, $3.06 billion. Hog produc-

ers got $442 million. Slightly more than a quarter of the aid has gone to row-crop farmers, and nearly onefifth went to dairy farmers. Farmers in Iowa got about $1 of every $10 disbursed so far — $714 million in all. Big farmers are the greatest beneficiaries, said , based on its analysis of the first 700,000 payments. “The top 10% of recipients got average payments of almost $95,000, while the bottom 10% av-

eraged around $300.” NBC News said, “Many struggling farmers remain ineligible for assistance, unable to get access to any of Congress’ funds.” In a statement, the USDA defended the integrity of the relief program: “USDA acted quickly to assist America’s farmers and ranchers — of all sizes and for all market outlets — as they faced the initial fallout of COVID-19.”

Land O’lakes And Microsoft Form Strategic Alliance

New innovations in agriculture like soil carbon capture By Gil Gullickson and O’Lakes Inc. and Microsoft Corp. have announced a multiyear strategic alliance to pioneer new innovations in agriculture and enhance the supply chain, expand sustainability practices for farmers and the food system, and close the rural broadband gap, say officials for the firm. As one of the nation’s largest farmerowned cooperatives with 150 million acres of productive cropland in its network, Land O’Lakes officials say the firm is deeply connected to rural America and has a unique understanding of farmers’ needs and the communities where they and their families live and work. Combined with Microsoft’s trusted cloud technologies and AI capabilities, officials for the companies will deliver solutions that help farmers’ profit potential and adoption of sustainable

agricultural practices. According to USDA, U.S. farms contribute more than $130 billion to the economy, emphasizing the critical role farmers play in our nation’s food supply. Yet the industry faces challenges that threaten its viability, including climate change, trade issues and an evolving workforce. With the emergence of COVID-19, the industry is increasingly facing production and supplychain issues, and many farmers are facing new economic challenges for their familyowned businesses. “Land O’Lakes is one of the most important food suppliers in the U.S., and our nation’s farmers and consumers rely on its ability to rapidly adapt to changing market forces through innovation,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft, in a company news release. “Through our partnership, we will apply the power of Azure and its

AI capabilities to help Land O’Lakes solve some of the most pressing challenges facing the industry and bridge the divide between rural and urban communities.” “As America’s farmers continue to deliver the world’s safest, most affordable food supply, they face an increasing number of obstacles that are beyond their control,” said Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc., in a company news release. “The data-based, precision agriculture tools that we are building with Microsoft will provide the edge they need, but unreliable or nonexistent high-speed internet in rural areas keeps these tools out of reach for many. Through this alliance, we will work to address this need and help farmers remain profitable and sustainable.”

Accelerating Agriculture Innovation Initially, the companies will focus on developing a connected AgTech platform, built on , that will bring together Land O’Lakes’ portfolio of innovative AgTech tools, such as , , and , under one unified architecture. By standardizing on Azure and harnessing the power of , Land O’Lakes will be able to derive insights that enable intelligent agriculture solutions for farmers to be more productive with their time and resources, say officials for the companies. This includes * Mitigating early plant stress to guide precisely where and when farmers should take action on their field for ideal growth conditions.* Maximizing yield potential by planting the right seed varieties and nutrients.* Optimizing fertilizer investments.* Ensuring accurate output ratio to meet demand properly.

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Jamaica becomes first country in the Caribbean to launch cannabis standards KINGSTON, Jamaica: he Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has developed and established seven standards for adaptation, which will provide guidelines and safeguards to protect consumers as well as assist companies with positioning their cannabis operations for the export market. The BSJ, an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, developed the standards as part of efforts to strengthen and support the cannabis industry in Jamaica. Addressing the virtual launch of the cannabis standards recently, Minister of State in the Ministry Floyd Green said the standards are an indication of the Government's commitment to ensuring that the relevant policies and legislative Green also commended the work that the buframeworks are in place to facilitate the safereau has put in to have the standards promulguarding of both stakeholders and consumers. gated. “I am very pleased that the bureau in the development of these standards really took an

all-inclusive and all-encompassing approach. I have to commend a really strong technical committee, made up of academia, members from the bureau, growers, licensees and a wide cross section of players in the cannabis industry that were brought together and who were seized with the urgency of now. They really worked around the clock to ensure that we have these strong standards,” he said. Green pointed out that Jamaica prides itself of not only being the first in the region to embark on a formal medicinal cannabis industry, but is continuing to lead the region in developing standards of this nature. He said that globally the cannabis industry is still in its growth phase and as such these international standards will build on the small body of work already achieved and will help to drive further development of standards across this very important industry.

Israel passes Germany as world’s largest importer of medical cannabis flower TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: srael overtook Germany as the No. 1 importer of medical cannabis flower in the world so far this year, according to data compiled by Tel Aviv-based Israeli Cannabis Magazine and Marijuana Business Daily. As of July, Israeli imports surpassed 6 metric tons, Oren Lebovitch, editor of Israeli Cannabis Magazine, told MJBizDaily. He gathered the import numbers from companies’ public disclosures as well as replies he received from several executives involved in the import side of the transactions. The latest German numbers – which stem from a reply to a parliamentary inquiry – show about three metric tons were imported as of end of May for pharmacy dispensing, according to data reported by MJBizDaily. As of early June, (8,818 pounds) of flower had been imported into Israel. Israel and Germany will likely be the only markets outside North America in which more than a metric ton of high-THC flower will be sold this year. Australia is the only of high-THC oil. Meanwhile, more than a dozen countries are hoping to be net exporters and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in marijuana export revenue – a disparity that is yet to be rationalized by some policymakers and industry executives. Comparatively Israeli import requirements have allowed cannabis producers from different continents that do not have EU-Good Manufacturing Practice certification to find an export destination for their products that can’t be sent to Germany. Lebovitch told MJBizDaily that the lower import requirements were implemented “due to insufficient domestic production of high-THC flower to meet internal demand.”

Israeli Bol Pharma receives a high-THC flower import shipped by Canadian producer Supreme. (Photo courtesy of Bol Pharma)

“Ongoing import agreements suggest that even more will be imported in the second half of the year,” Lebovitch added. How long and how big the export opportunities to both countries will be is anyone’s guess. The trend could at least partially revert once domestic production ramps up in Israel and . Israel had no large imports , but in only six months the country became the largest importer in the world, underscoring how quickly things change in this nascent international industry. Israeli producers have long eyed the export market, but the government has been slow to successfully facilitate exports, despite many attempts. Several government decisions supposedly approving exports have been widely celebrated over the past couple of years, but so far no meaningful exports from Israel have occurred.

German imports slowing? Germany imported 3,032 kilograms of medical cannabis flower for pharmacy dispensing through May 29, a figure that indicates little growth versus the average amount of cannabis the country imported in 2019 over an equivalent period of time. Although not explicitly mentioned in the reply to the parliamentary inquiry, it is worth noting that some small quantities of those imports could have been re-exported. A government disclosure previously indicated that of medical marijuana flower had been imported as of March 6, 2020. That means 2,000 kilograms were imported between March 6 and May 29. Imported quantities fluctuate significantly throughout the year and are irregularly reported by the German government – as opposed to , which is reported quarterly, so experts warn against drawing hard conclusions from import numbers alone. In 2019, a total of about were imported for pharmacy dispensing in Germany, which translates into an average of 542 kilograms per month imported throughout the year. The 3,032 kilograms imported through May 2020 imply an average per month of about 600 kilograms so far this year – a small amount in the grand scheme of things. Germany will depend exclusively on imports to supply its market at least , when is expected to be ready. The – updated through the first quarter of 2020 – shows statutory health insurers covered 38.9 million euros ($43.8 million) for various medical cannabis products. March saw record insurance-covered sales since the current regulatory framework was implemented in early 2017, with total reimbursements reaching almost 15 million euros, but stockpiling was probably the explanation for that spike.

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JULY - AUGUST 2020 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 11

APPOINTMENT

LESLIE CAMPBELL The Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries eslie Campbell is a lawyer by profession and the Member of Parliament for North Eastern St. Catherine since February 2016. He is also the Deputy Treasurer of the Jamaica Labour Party. Campbell was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries effective July 17, 2020, having previously served as the Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Land, the Environment, and Climate Change in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. He has held positions on several public boards, including, Commissioner with the Anti-dumping and Subsidies Commission, Chairman of the National Health Fund, as well as a Member of the Board of Petrojam Ltd. Other boards include the South East Regional Health Authority, the Firearms Licensing Authority, the Transport Authority, and Nutrition Products Ltd. Campbell has a love for people and a passion for rural and community development. His hobbies include fishing and sailing, and he is an avid lover of music. Campbell became a lawyer in 1994, having attended St Mary’s College, the University of London, and the Norman Manley Law School. He specializes in civil matters and is also a businessman.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Leslie Campbell (left), looks on as Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), makes a point to Permanent Secretary, Dermon Spence, at a staff meeting to introduce staff to the newly appointed Minister, at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens’ offices in Kingston on July 23.

Campbell replaces JC Hutchinson By Kimmy Maitland The Agriculturalist Reporter he recently appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Leslie Campbell, says he is very excited to serve Jamaica's farmers. He replaced J.C. Hutchinson, Minister without portfolio in the Agriculture Ministry, who has been embroiled in controversy over a land deal at Holland Estate in St. Elizabeth. The North Eastern St. Catherine Member of Parliament, who recently was appointed Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, said, "Agriculture and growing plants were always my passion and I am therefore looking forward to serve as Jamaica moves towards enhancing food production." He added that, "This is a very serious and important Ministry. I am willing to put my hours in time. So long as we have the work to do, I will be there. I seek the assistance of all stakeholders to give my best.”

Campbell also noted that agriculture would play a significant role in Jamaica's economic recovery post the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing staff at a meeting at the Hope Gardens' offices of the Ministry on July 23, Campbell pointed to countries such as the United States, Malta, and Israel, which have used agriculture as the base for their economic success. Campbell, who was appointed to the Ministry on July 17, encouraged the staff to double their efforts to enable the Ministry to succeed. Meanwhile, in his remarks, Portfolio Minister, Audley Shaw, welcomed Campbell on board to the Ministry, noting that it had a "loyal and dedicated workforce." He expressed appreciation to the former Minister without Portfolio, J.C. Hutchinson, for his contribution to the Ministry and wished him well in his new stint at the Office of the Prime Minister. Permanent Secretary Dermon Spence acknowledged Hutchinson's hard work and said that the Ministry is committed to providing the newly appointed Minister without Portfolio with the necessary support.

Beekeepers’ Training Session Apiculture Officer at the Apiculture Unit of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Suzette Bernard-Miller (6th l) poses with bee farmers during a recent training session held at Bodles Research Station, St. Catherine. The training aimed to increase efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness in the local beekeeping industry.

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community photos

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PROMOTING COMMUNITY-BASED CLIMATE RESILIENCE: Newly appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF), Leslie Campbell (3rd l), is being shown a brochure by Project Manager of the Promoting Community-based Climate Resilience in the Fisheries Sector project, Selena Ledgister (1st l), at the launch of the project and sensitization meeting in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, on July 27. Others in photo are Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South West and Minister of State in the Ministry, Floyd Green (2nd l) and Project Development Specialist in the Ministry, I. W. Wilson.

HI-PRO #GROWSTRONG HANDOVER: Trelawny livestock farmer, Ivy Brown is pleased to receive Hi-Pro Feed allocated to her by the Trelawny Praedial Larceny Unit at a recent Hi-Pro #GROWSTRONG handover. On hand to make this presentation were (l-r) Superintendent Kirk Ricketts, Sergeant Tyrone Nickle, Paul Thompson, Senior Technical Sales Representative, Hi-Pro, and Deputy Superintendent Christopher Bowen. Ms. Brown was one of almost twenty small farmers selected by the month-old Praedial Larceny Unit to receive these agricultural inputs as part of Hi-Pro’s #GROWSTRONG initiative, and the TPLU’s effort to recognize farmers affected by theft, while strengthening ties with the community.

FARMERS GET FARM SUPPLIES: Member of Parliament for St. Andrew East Rural Juliet Holness (1st l) presents farmers with day-old chicks and animal feeds as part of her constituency development programme. The MP also recently donated sixteen-400 gallon water tanks to farmers in the rural communities. “As we stand resilient against the effects that drought conditions continue to have on our farmers, it was imperative for me to come to their aid with water tanks and other farm supplies,” Holness noted.

Send your press releases and photos editor@theagriculturalist.com or Call 923-7471

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JULY - AUGUST 2020 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 13

Sweet yam farmer has high praises for RADA Submitted by Communication & Public Relations Unit Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries —————————

armer Shermaine Barnett has high praises for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) for the support given to her in the development of her sweet yam farm in Endeavour in the parish of St. Ann. The 40 year-old mother of 12-yearold Zarek, is one of 500 farmers growing sweet yam and approximately 4,000 farmers islandwide benefitting under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ Production Incentive Programme (PIP). The PIP is managed by RADA and targets nine crops, namely ginger, strawberry, cassava, Irish potato, onion, sweet and yellow yams, hot pepper and dasheen, with the aim of increasing and sustaining production to meet market demands. Barnett credits her high performance in the production of sweet yam to her participation in the seminars, farms visits, assistance with pesticides, as well as supply of planting materials and pesticides from RADA. “If I were to rate the help I received from RADA out of 10, it would be a 10,” she said. Barnett, who also grows an acre of Irish potato and corn, explained that her crop was affected by the anthracnose disease, but RADA stepped in and was able to remedy the situation, breathing new life into her farming operations, which consists of some 1,000 yam hills. The sweet yam farmer, who credits her love for farming from watching her father, urged others who need assistance from RADA to become registered. “I grew up knowing my dad as a farmer. I would go with him some Saturdays but was only allowed to sit under a tree or in the farmhouse as I was a girl. As an adult, my interest grew but my dad was very hesitant. Eventually, he gave in; he gave me land, and a lot of guidance plus his labour. So, it is fair to say I got in because of my dad,” she said. After nine years as a farmer, Ms. Barnett is encouraging young people to get into farming, noting that it is a challenging but financially rewarding vocation, which has enabled her “to live above the poverty line”. “It is also a feeling of great accomplishment, knowing I am contributing significantly to feed Jamaica and, by extension, the world as I export sweet yam,” she added. To date, Ms. Barnett has exported 10,000 pounds of sweet yams and she has a positive outlook for the future with “more growth and prosperity” on the horizon.

Sweet yam farmer Shermaine Barnett tends to her farm in Endeavour, St. Ann. “Come next year, I will also be trying a new method of planting sweet yam called trellising, which, if successful, will result in more profits, so the future is bright,” she

expressed. Meanwhile, Portfolio Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Audley Shaw, recently announced in his Sectoral presentation that as part of efforts to assist small

farmers experiencing challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional sum of $1billion would be allocated to the programme.

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4H Club News

The JDDB partners with stakeholders for Livestock feed security

utrition plays an essential role in milk production and is one of the main challenges that farmers face island-wide.

The JDDB’s suite of services provides technical support to Dairy Farmers by offering pasture management services; as well as the demonstration of making silage and distributing the results to farmers with the support of key stakeholders. Since the down turn of the Sugar Cane Sector, the JDDB through strategic partnerships has embarked Worker loading Sugar Cane on multiple initiatives, to utilize sugar in Rhymesbury, Clarendon cane and concentrates for fodder conservation. The JDDB is not limited by geographic boundaries and continues to make an impact in areas where the need is evident. The JDDB has provided over ninety percent (90%) of its dairy farmers with chaffing machines and further assist with providing fodder conservations services. For the month of June, the JDDB has visited three (3) parishes namely Clarendon, St Mary and St James where its own Silo Packer and Silo Press were utilized to produce sugar cane silage for distribution to farmers.

RYEEP Starter 1000 ‘providing more opportunities for youth in agriculture’ By Karelle McCormack KarelleMcCormack@jamaica4hclubs.com

Public Relations & Marketing Manager The Jamaica 4-H Clubs ————————— he Jamaica 4-H Clubs has launched its RYEEP Starter 1000 initiative, as an additional means of encouraging more youth farmers to start agricultural enterprises. It is also part of the observation of the organization’s 80th Anniversary, which runs during the period of April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. Described as another “layer” of the already established Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme, (RYEEP), (now known as the RYEEP Builder), this facility will “also open doors of opportunities to youth across Jamaica having the interest and propensity to contribute to the growth and development of the agricultural sector.” It is also a direct response to call by youth, most of whom who were displaced from their jobs because of the Covid-19 pandemic and are ready to fully immerse themselves in agriculture as a full time career.

It is a three-month programme, which begins in August 2020 and caters to offering “entry point support” through training and starter inputs to at least 1000 youth. The training, which will be conducted virtually, will provide participants between the ages of 18 and 35 years, instruction in agricultural best practices and business development. At least 900 successful participants will receive starter inputs valued at $50,000.00. The remaining 100 youth farmers will be able to advance to the existing RYEEP Builder. Youth who are either already involved in or are in preparation mode to start enterprises in apiculture, agro-processing, (cottage-based enterprises), livestock production and crop production are eligible to apply. Additional information can be obtained from the Business and Entrepreneurial Development Unit at 876-927-4050-2 or via the Jamaica 4-H Clubs website at jamaica4hclubs.com.

Fodder material being chaffed in St Mary

Through a collaborative approach the JDDB and the Montpellier Research and Development Division of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries; the agency produced 173 bags of silage for distribution in Montpellier St James. A further 250 bags of sugar cane silage were produced by JDDB, HiPro Feeds and Small Ruminants Association of Jamaica for distribution to farmers in St Catherine and Clarendon. The JDDB is committed to meet the needs of our farmers with provision of silage and technical assistance. We also encourage self-sustenance and as such have made it possible for farmers to access our machines through a simple process, where they contact the Technical Officer and request this service. Silage bags are provided along with technical support free of charge. The farmers are only required to provide transportation for the machine from Bodles Research Station in Old Harbour to their farm. While the island faces drought spells, the JDDB continues to promote conservation practices. We encourage the repurposing of raw material to make valuable finished products; for farmers to secure feed for animals all year round and by extension securing the sustainability of the Dairy Industry. We are committed to serving our hardworking farmers and we remain diligent in identifying and supporting new entrants to this very valuable sector. Silage packaged at Montpellier St James

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JULY - AUGUST 2020 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 17

Jamaica records 1,106 COVID-19 cases J

amaica recorded twenty-four (24) new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The total number of confirmed positives for the island now stand at 1,106. Sixteen (16) of the newly confirmed cases are males and eight (8) are females, with ages ranging from 10 to 71 years. They have addresses in Kingston and St. Andrew (11), St. Catherine (4), St. Thomas (3), St. James (2), Westmoreland (1), Clarendon (2), and St. Mary (1). Five cases were imported, having arrived

from the United States in early July. Two of the five have since returned to the United States. Of the 19 remaining cases, seven (7) are contacts of confirmed cases and 12 are under investigation. At this time, there are 393 imported cases; 357 cases are contacts of confirmed cases; 236 are related to the workplace cluster in St. Catherine; 75 are local transmissions not epidemiologically linked; and 45 are under investigation.

Some 606 (54.8%) of the confirmed cases are females and 500 (45.2%) are males. They range in age from two (2) months to 88 years. Of the 1,106 total confirmed cases for the island, 761 have recovered and been discharged from care (68.8% recovery rate) while 64 cases (5.8%) have returned to their countries of origin and 14 (1.3%) have died. There are currently 267 (24.1%) active cases being monitored.

Farmers now have global platform to sell produce F

armers across the island who have been complaining about being unable to reach markets due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) now have a global platform called OEXONE that they can join to upload and list their crop outputs, take orders and receive payments directly to their bank accounts from buyers around the world. The OEXONE platform facilitates diaspora trade, commerce and investment opportunities. Its key features are marketdriven network capacity, driving consensus and addressing gaps that will enable shared business processes and optimise contractual transactions from simple purchase-topay (P2P) operations to enterprise business-to-business (B2B) transactions.

Robert Kibo Thompson Founder/Chief Executive Officer, OEXONE

The OEXONE platform was established as a non-denominational, non-biased regional platform for trade, investments, marketing, value-chain capacity building and payment services that handle local, cross-border import and export transactions. OEXONE also offers access to a brokerage firm for export items to be taken by farmers, which handles the various processes such as packing and logistics. Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Robert Kibo Thompson, is the mastermind behind OEXONE, which was launched on July 15 at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston. Thompson, a marketer by trade, says he strongly believes Jamaica has the potential to produce more and export more.

In keeping with that, he knew one of the roles he could play was creating a new technology-driven platform to which Jamaican farmers can connect and access buyers across the world, and that he did. “When I realised how many imports were coming into Jamaica, in particular the fresh produce side, and that we could have produced most of these goods here and turned around and export them as well, and also the fact that there’s a small number of producers and manufacturers that actually have access to markets… [I registered] OEXONE [with a] mandate to create a platform that gives global access to markets with an efficient process in place,” Mr. Thompson tells JIS News.

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Hi-Pro #Growstrong

Jeynel-lee Richards Walker, caregiver at the Strathemore Gardens Children’s Home works alongside some of the boys from the home to set up feeding pans for the 200 chicks gifted to the home by Hi-Pro as part of the company’s #Growstrong initiative. The chicks were accompanied by twenty bags of Hi-Pro Feed, and other inputs required for renovation of the coop. Kirk Pennant, Technical Sales representative at Hi-Pro was on hand to assist with renovation of the coop, and installation of a brooding area for the chicks.

Strathemore Gardens Children’s Home benefits from Hi-Pro #Growstrong Program T

he broiler programme at the Strathemore Gardens Children’s Home in St. Catherine has been revived by the Hi-Pro #GrowStrong programme launched by the Jamaica Broilers Group to benefit small farmers and farming initiatives affected by Covid-19. On Friday, July 24, 2020 Hi-Pro donated 200 baby chicks, 20 bags of feed, four tarpaulins and a heat lamp to restart the home’s chicken coop, aimed at feeding the 33 wards currently at the facility. In addition, Hi-Pro provided technical assistance in the setting up of the chicken coop guided by the company’s technical representative, Kirk Pennant, aimed at ensuring the survival and growth of the baby chicks. The home will also be receiving support in the

raising of the birds from a long time neighbour and volunteer Elaine Mowatt, affectionately known as the Community Mother, who has experience with broiler management. In a surprise move, Lackesha Pitter, brand manager, Reggae Jammin’ and Hamilton’s Smokehouse, who was on hand to treat the children and staff to Reggae Jammin’ hot dogs, announced that since the turnaround time for chicks to mature would be six weeks, the Best Dressed Chicken brand would donate two cases of A grade whole birds, to get some quality protein on the plates of the Strathemore Gardens’ children right away. The presentation was made to an ecstatic Marcia Tucker, director of the home and her team of caregivers. “We are so thankful,” said Tucker. “We

needed the help, as we are even looking to expand the home so we can accommodate more children and to be self-sufficient in the production of chickens, brings us closer to realising that goal,” she continued. The Hi-Pro #Growstrong programme was launched on June 12 of this year. To-date the programme has established a layer unit at the Maxfield Park Children’s home and distributed over 1300 bags of Hi-Pro Feed to farmers through a network of Hi-Pro dealers and various livestock associations. Through partnerships with the Jamaica Agricultural Society and the Rural Agricultural Development Agency and the Trelawny Praedial Larceny Unit, small farmers have also been issued with over 450 Hi-Pro

#Growstrong crop kits containing seeds, herbicide, pesticide and fungicide for the planting of a quarter- acre plot. “The welfare of our small farmers is the very core of our business,” said Hi-Pro Marketing Officer, Denise Johnson-Anderson. “The past few months have been challenging for them and this initiative is a way of demonstrating our support. Jamaican farmers are resilient and we are confident in their ability to come back better and stronger than before,” she noted.

Submitted by Jamaica Broilers Group DJohnson@jabgl.com

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Knowledge

Importance of Water/Moisture Management in Crop Production By Melvin Henry Technical Manager, Newport-Fersan (Jamaica) Limited. ——————————————ater is often referred to as ìlifeî and how fitting is such a phrase, since water plays a myriad of critical functions in the sustenance of life. Whereas human bodies are comprised of approximately 70% water, in plants, this proportion could be as much as 95% - thus underscoring the significance of sound water management techniques in crop production. Separate and apart from its role in the structural integrity of plants, water also determines how nutrients are acquired (from external sources) and also how they are distributed within the plant, in order to facilitate growth and development. The rate of photosynthesis, is inextricably linked to the volume of water available to the plant. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use CO2, H2O and sunlight to make food and is regarded as the most important biochemical process on the planet. Since plants are generally planted in some form of growing medium, it is important to first understand how the properties of these medium feature in both the collection and storage of water for plant use. For the purpose of this discussion, we will focus on soils, since they account for the majority of the world’s crop production systems, when compared to other growing media used. The soil’s ability to hold water is directly related to its textural classification, which is based on the percentages of clay, silt and sand that it is comprised of. Water holds more tightly to finer soil particles e.g. those of higher clay content, than those having larger coarser particles due to higher sand content.

termine the OM content of the soil, based on the results, the appropriate measures should be implemented to achieve the best possible OM content levels.

Water delivered directly to the root zone of corn to facilitate growth and development.

Hydroponics System with water channelled through a series of PVC pipe to support plant growth.

Particle size of primary soil components

Coarse sand = diameter 2-0.2mm Fine sand = diameter 0.2-0.02mm Silt = diameter 0.02-0.002mm Clay = diameter less than 0.002mm Whilst the soil’s textural class, which describes the texture of the soil, aids in the determination of the volume of water it can store for plant use, it also determines the rate of infiltration – which is a critical first step before storage can be done. Additionally, soil compaction (surface or subsoil) affects the rate of infiltration and percolation. Water reaching the soil, be it from rainfall or irrigation, must first enter the soil via infiltration in order to be stored for plant use. The nature of the surface layer determine – along with other factors such as rainfall intensity - what percentage of the actual rainfall enters the soil (infiltration) and what percentage moves elsewhere as runoff. The objective of the farmer is to have (if not all) the greater percentage of water

Irrigation vs. Drainage A farmer might be called upon to do irrigation or drainage at any given point in time, in an attempt to provide the most favourable soil condition. Whilst adequate and consistent water supply is critical for optimum performance of all crops, an excess of this precious resource within the root zone of plants could lead to several problems. Plant roots must be able to participate in gaseous exchange and as such, must have adequate aeration to facilitate this process. If the soil becomes oversaturated from irrigation/rainfall, this gaseous exchange becomes impaired and if prolonged, could result in the death of the plant – mirroring the results of prolonged drought conditions. Oversaturated soils also destroys beneficial organisms responsible for critical functions such as nutrient cycling and also creates the ideal breeding conditions for a number of disease causing organisms. In order to treat the issue of oversaturated soils, the construction of appropriate drainage systems may become necessary. The need for onsite technical expertise is absolutely important in the determination of the following relating to drains: 1. Placement 2. Direction of flow 3. Size & Shape 4. Depth Key factors influencing water demand by crops Climate–high temperature, high wind speed and low humidity (dry air) increases the evapotranspiration (ET) rate, which is the loss of water from the plant and soil surface. It therefore means that the same crop growing under cooler temperatures with lower wind speeds and higher humidity will require less water due to a lower ET rate. Crop Species–some crop species have great water demand than others.

Water delivered directly to the root zone of onion to facilitate growth and development.

during rainfall infiltrating the soil for storage. It therefore means that all the necessary steps must be taken to accomplish the following: · Reduction of surface crusting which reduces infiltration. · Use of appropriate tillage equipment aimed at breaking hardpans within the subsoil to facilitate deeper percolation after infiltration. · Use of organic material (eg. humic acid or mulch) on the surface of the soil to

reduce runoff and increase infiltration In addition to the soil’s textural classification, the organic matter (OM) content also features heavily in determining the volume of water than can be retained for plant use after an irrigation cycle or rainfall. It is estimated that with every 1% increase in organic matter content (in some soils), there is an increase potential storage capacity of 20,000 gallons per acre to 1 foot depth. That being said, it is very important to have an assessment done to de-

Water delivered directly to the root zone of sweet pepper to facilitate growth and development.

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DO YOU HAVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS TO LEASE? WE CAN HELP YOU LEASE IT The Agro-Investment Corporation, an Agency under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will be assisting interested Agricultural Land Owners to lease their lands to suitable Investors/ Farmers. APPLICATION SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Application forms are available for download at www.agroinvest.gov.jm and should be completed by the land owner and submitted with the relevant supporting documents to info@agroinvest.gov.jm Application forms will also be available at RADA offices island-wide and the Agro-Investment Corporation’s Corporate Office located at 188 Spanish Town Road, Kingston 11. For more information, please call us at 876-764-8365 or 876-923-9268/ 876-923-7428. Eligibility Criteria 1. Agricultural Land Owners who are seeking to transfer agricultural lands via lease, or other tenure arrangements to suitable Investors/ Farmers; 2. Interested applicants should ownover 50 acres/20 hectares.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

Maurice Davis

11-year-old hopes to pursue passion for farming at Mona High

t is not often that one meets an 11-year-old who wants to become a farmer. But for Maurice Davis, who is a recent graduate of Windward Road Primary and Junior High School, farming is not only a career goal but a passion that he hopes to further develop at Mona High School, which he will attend come September. Maurice, who was a member of the 4-H club at his primary school, tells JIS News that, through farming, he hopes to contribute to creating a sustainable future for Jamaica. “Being part of the 4-H club was a good experience, as I learned about good practices in farming and also about different fruits and vegetables. I love to eat and I love different foods. My neighbour is a farmer who plants scallion, sweet potato, melon and much more. I like how he is able to feed his family and I really want to do that so that I can increase people’s access to fruits and vegetables,” he says. Maurice plans to join the 4-H club at Mona High and continue to expand his knowledge and skills in agriculture. The youngster was placed at Mona High based on the results of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP). Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), students were not able to sit all components of the PEP this year. The decision was made to use the results of the 2018 Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy Test, the 2019 gradefive Performance Task and the PEP Ability Test in February to place students at high schools across the island. Maurice admits that when he heard about the cancellation of the exams he was disappointed. “My grades were always good but I knew that I could do better. I was hoping to sit the PEP exams to improve my grades and give myself a better chance at placement in one of the schools of my choice,” he says. He tells JIS News that he had prepared hard for the exam, attending extra classes on weekdays and on the weekends. “All my time was about studying and practising for the exams. I put a lot of work in, so that is also why I was so disappointed,” he says. He notes that while Mona High was not among his choices he will work hard at the school “to be the best that I can be. I look forward to starting my new school. I am nervous but I also want to do well and improve my grades with each test that I take,” he says. “When my high-school exams come around, I will always remember my goal to constantly do better and ensure that I am more successful than the last time,” Maurice says. For her part, Maurice’s mother, Taneisha Davis, says that she is proud of her son and will continue to encourage him to do his best and reach for the stars. As a mother of two boys, Mrs. Davis puts all her energy into motivating her children.

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IICA joins forces to address diseases build resilience to COVID-19 in CARICOM Submitted by Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, IICA Representative in Jamaica elizabeth.johnson@iica.int ————————OVID-19 has exposed the health and economic vulnerabilities of our civilization and will be with us for the foreseeable future. In the Caribbean, our people are our most valuable resource for sustained economic growth and development. However, they are among the most vulnerable in the Americas, with 81% of deaths in CARICOM attributable to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity and chronic respiratory diseases all collectively known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). COVID-19 is more lethal in people with NCDs and weakened immune systems. Recently, children infected with COVID-19 have been shown to develop a deadly new pediatric multi-symptom inflammatory syndrome. Children with micronutrient-poor diets, and especially suffering from zinc and iron deficiency suffer from delayed mental and physical development and are also more pre-disposed to developing NCDs in adulthood. Micronutrients such as Vitamin A, Zinc and Iron have also been associated with poor health, chronic noncommunicable diseases, low economic productivity and higher premature deaths and maternal mortality in adults. CARICOM has been successful in mitigating the spread of and maintaining a low mortality rate due to COVID-19. However, given that many of our economies are tourism based, and the uncertainty regarding the expected duration of the pandemic, economic recovery in CARICOM Member States could be a long and arduous process. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a clear and present existential threat to our people and our future development as it also affects our children. Currently, treating NCD related illnesses in CARICOM costs governments ~4.2% of GDP. As chronic diseases, this also leads to sub-optimum productivity in CARICOM as over 80% of the workforce is afflicted with one or more pre-existing conditions due to NCDs. Combined with the economic crisis resulting from COVID-19, treating NCDs becomes an extenuating cost to CARICOM governments which may result in the poorest and most vulnerable in the region being unable to access adequate healthcare. Biofortified crops have the innate ability for higher nutrient content. Biofortified staples, such as Iron biofortified beans and zinc biofortified rice can provide about 15% to 40% of the daily requirement for these minerals. Rice and beans form the basis of most meals and can be eaten up to 5 days/week in CARICOM. Therefore, these staple crops developed by traditional plant breeding, ie. non-genetically modified, can provide an affordable supply of nutritious food to all levels of CARICOM society. Data published in Jan 2020, showed that a population replacing 40% of its bean intake with iron biofortified beans reduced iron deficiency related conditions by as much as 30%

Iron biofortified bean Observation Yield Trial planted 28 May 2020 in Belize on the way to finding more nutritious beans for CARICOM in the fight against noncommunicable diseases and by extension vulnerability to COVID-19. Measures to control the spread of COVID-19 were observed. -Photos by W. Chan, IICA Belize

( h t t p s : / / w w w. w h o . i n t / d o c s / d e f a u l t source/nutritionlibrary/seminars-and-webinars/area-webinar---23-jan-2020/2020-areac o p - w e b i n a r- e r i c k b o y - p r e s e n t a t i o n 23jan.pdf?sfvrsn=cd7c81bb_11) The 81st meeting of the CARICOM Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) Oct 2019 in Belize, approved mobilization of funding for a 5-year project for the adoption and production of biofortified crops in the region as part of an overall strategy to address hidden hunger and noncommunicable diseases. All CARICOM member states will benefit from the project which will deliver varieties of iron biofortified beans and zinc biofortified rice varieties best suited to growing regions in Belize and Guyana for export to and consumption in all member states. The project also includes a public education component to allay fears about and consumption of biofortified crops as well as the training for relevant stakeholders in measuring and documenting impact to determine efficacy of consuming biofortified beans and rice in reducing the burden of micronutrient deficiency syndromes. The data collected could also substantiate CARICOM’s achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero hunger which is also associated with impaired cognitive ability and reduced school and work performance. Documentation is crucial as in working towards SDG 2, the project also contributes towards CARICOM’s achievement of SDG 6 –Sustainable Development, SDG 5-Gender Equality, SDG 1-No Poverty and SDG 10- Sustainable Development.

The project was presented by IICA, who developed and now leads a collaborative network of partners called the CARICOM Biofortification Network (CBN), in response to a request from CARICOM for an actionable strategy to address NCDs in the region. The CBN is a collaborative network of CARICOM agencies, regional and international specialists from Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), The International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Latin American Irrigation Rice Fund (FLAR), Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), HarvestPlus LAC, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Ministry of Food Agriculture and Immigration (MFAI) Belize and Penn State University with IICA as lead. Given the 2019 COTED mandate, the CBN initiated work towards establishing the first set of field trials to identify the best varieties of iron biofortified beans and zinc biofortified rice for CARICOM. The CBN is pleased to announce that the first biofortified crop trial for iron rich beans was established in Belize on 28 May 2020. Plans are on the way to establish the first zinc biofortified rice trial in Guyana in June 2020. The purpose of these trials is to develop/identify the best varieties for commercial production of biofortified rice and beans for consumption in CARICOM.

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Exposure risk among agriculture workers and employers C

OVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus called SARS-CoV-2. There is no evidence that livestock, crops, or products that may be handled by workers involved in production agriculture are sources of COVID-19 infection. However, close contact with coworkers may contribute to spreading the virus among workers. Distinctive factors that affect farmworkers’ risk for COVID-19 in production agriculture workplaces include: • Distance between workers – farmworkers often have close contact to one another both in the fields and indoors. Workers may also be near one another at other times, such as when clocking in or out, during breaks, when sharing transportation, or in shared housing. • Duration of contact – farmworkers often have prolonged close contact with coworkers, both on the work site and during transportation and in some housing. Continued contact with potentially infectious individuals increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission. • Type of contact – farmworkers may be exposed to COVID-19 through respiratory droplets in the air—for example, when workers who have the virus cough, sneeze, or talk. Exposure could also occur when workers have contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, such as tools, equipment, tractors, workstations, toilet facilities, or break room tables and then touch their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about how this virus spreads. Other factors that may increase risk among some workers include:

Sharing transportation such as ride-share vans or shuttle vehicles, car-pools, and public transportation. Living in employer-furnished housing and sharing living quarters, cooking and eating areas, bathrooms, and laundry facilities with fellow workers. Living in crowded and multigenerational housing. Contact within their households/families and with fellow workers in community settings in areas with ongoing community transmission.

Mobility of the workforce —who, in moving from farm to farm, can potentially spread the virus between communities. Poor access to clean water for hygiene purposes throughout the day. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus called SARS-CoV-2. often include a fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste and smell.

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