MONTEGO BAY, St James – Agriculture and Lands Minister Roger Clarke says the government plans to increase the ministry’s budgetary allocation for the 2007/2008 financial year, which he said would allow farmers to grasp the vast opportunities emerging in the sector.

“We have been assiduously working with the farmers and the Ministry of Finance.and so for this year you will see improved allocation in the budget,” Clarke said. “This will allow farmers to make use of the linkage which is developing between the tourism industry and agriculture,” he added.

Additionally, he said, the increased allocation would also enable farmers to address some of the difficulties that they have been experiencing.

However, Clarke, who was addressing Thursday’s launch of the 24th staging of the Montpelier Agricultural, Livestock and Industry Show in Montego Bay declined to disclose the proposed level of increase expected for the agriculture sector in the new fiscal year.

For the 2006/2007 financial year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands was allocated a budget of $3.8 billion.

Clarke said Thursday that the administration had decided that agriculture must move to “another and higher level”, and would be taking the necessary steps to ensure that the ministry become even more ‘farmer-friendly’.

“We are determined that within the ministry we are going to put a system in place which will become like a one stop shop,” said the minister.

The Montpelier Agricultural, Livestock and Industrial Show, being staged at a cost of $2.2 million, is set to take place at the Montpelier showground in St James on Easter Monday, April 9.

According to president of the St James Association of Branch Societies, Glendon Harris, this year’s staging promises to be the best ever.

“This event will bring farmers, horticulturists, craftsmen, related agencies and others from across the island to exhibit their various products, and to compete in a range of competitions. The exhibits will include livestock, birds, fish, craft and a variety of other local products,” said Harris.

The major objectives of the show, Harris said, are:

. to promote the work of farmers in the western region;

. showcase the various schools in the region that are engaged in agriculture; and

. provide quality entertainment for families across the region.

The event is being staged under the theme: ” Grow our Fortune Through Agriculture, Eat Jamaican.”