Gareth Manning and Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporters

The 55th staging of the Denbigh Agri-Industrial show in Clarendon ended with loud 'hurrahs' yesterday, as Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller outlined several billion dollars in benefits to farmers, including an emergency shipment of fertiliser that should arrive in the island in a few weeks from Venezuela.

The fertiliser, which is to be distributed by the Jamaica Agricultural Society and the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA), is to be sold at "reasonable prices" Mrs. Simpson Miller said. The deal was signed with Venezuelan officials yesterday morning, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke told The Gleaner.

In June, fertiliser cost had increased from approximately $1,200 to $1,600 per bag.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Simpson Miller said $3 billion would be allocated to farmers as loan from the Petro Caribe fundand funds from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). The loans will attract an interest rate of less than 10 per cent.

Irrigation systems islandwide

In addition to that, funds of up to $20 million will be provided by the European Union (EU) over the next five years to improve sugar cane production. More than $2 billion is to be spent over the next four years on the provision of irrigation systems islandwide.

The Prime Minister, who also unveiled the construction plan of a 60-room hotel on the show grounds, said agriculture was on the move.

"A quiet revolution is on the way in agriculture. I am sure you do not want to change that," she said in reference to the upcoming general election.

Mrs. Simpson Miller also said more than $4 billion has been provided to improve access to potable water and sewage services across the island. Land will also be provided for farmers in Portland and St. Mary. Minister Clarke has been instructed by Mrs. Simpson Miller to ensure that women, youth and Rastafarians are a part of the allocation.

"This is not a bag a mouth. This is something I've started to do. This will replace (outdated) means of production and help farmers increase their yield and find more market on a consistent basis," she said.