Paul Henry (left), farmer shows Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture and Land produce from his greenhouse production during the launch of the Rural Agricultural Development Authoriy, domestic food crop production and marketing project open day at High Pride Enterprise in Highgate, St. Mary on Wednesday, June 13. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

DENBIGH, Clarendon:

In an effort to attract more young people to the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is embarking on introducing technology into the field.

Greenhouse production and hydroponics cultivation would pull youths into agriculture, Roger Clarke, the Minister of Agriculture, said at the opening ceremony of the 55th staging of Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show in May Pen, Clarendon on the weekend.

"This technology is demonstrating to Jamaica that farming does not have to be marginal and backbreaking, but can be profitable and sophisticated," he said.

Saturday was dubbed 'Youth In Agriculture Day' at Denbigh. Mr. Clarke also officially launched the Jamaica Greenhouse Growers Association (JGGA).

Another plus to technology driven agricultural crops, Mr. Clarke noted was that Jamaican produce will be more competitive.

"No more will cruise ships come here with produce as we are not producing enough, not producing with uniformity. With greenhouse production there should be no reason for a pound of produce to come here from somewhere else," Mr. Clarke said.

Greenhouse management

With technical assistance on greenhouse management from the Cuban government and the Rural Diversification Programme a number of greenhouses will be constructed on farms, Mr. Clarke noted.

He said the ministry has spent some $14 million to date to help various farmers involved in protected cultivation including the Christian Potato Growers' Association, assisting with the construction of a tissue culture facility.

Through the assistance of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, three greenhouses have been established at a cost of $2.5 million.