Events
Jamaican Consulate To Host Agriculture Invest Seminar, May 12, 2009, New York
Staff Writer
15 years ago

A seminar on investment opportunities in the agricultural sector in Jamaica will be held at the Jamaican Consulate, 767 Third Avenue, New York City, on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 and starting at 7:00 pm.

Themed, “farming is back”, the evening session will be keynoted by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Christopher Tufton and will also feature an interactive segment with questions and answers.

The seminar which will focus in part on production, post harvest processing and greenhouse technology, is part of the Government’s aim to engage the Diaspora in investment opportunities as it moves ahead with a major initiative to boost agricultural production and improve food security.

“Members of the Diaspora are being invited to participate and take advantage of a golden opportunity to invest in Jamaica and working together in developing viable and exciting projects in agriculture which will redound to our mutual benefit,” according to Consul General of Jamaica in New York, Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger, who is hosting the seminar.

Working from an overarching blueprint aimed at improving skills in greenhouse technology and attracting younger farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture’s new Modified Environment Agriculture Certificate Program which is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will train participants to use science and technology for best response to the needs of this vital sector.

In his show of support for the programme, Dr. Tufton said that he was confident that as long as the available technology is properly utilized, the country could see significant increases in domestic food crops within the next few years.

Consul General Brown Metzger noted that Jamaica’s total agricultural export is less than US$200 million, indicating there is an urgent need for the country to take advantage of the extended US ethnic market of $142 billion.

Due to space constraints, interested person are being urged to call the Consulate General’s office at 212-935-9000 x 20 or 21, on/before Monday, May 11, 2009.