GOVERNOR General Professor Kenneth Hall has called for greater use of locally grown foods in Jamaica’s tourism sector to assist in increasing domestic demand thus, stimulating agricultural production.

“What will help (our farmers) though, is the support of the nation as a whole that we all are behind them …that we will buy what our farmers are producing,” Professor Hall said on Sunday’s second day of the three-day 2007 Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon.

Professor Hall was, however, delighted that event organisers the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) had, for the first time, partnered with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

“I specifically want to congratulate the JAS on partnering with the tourism sector and on the exhibits today we saw significant presence of that sector,” he said.

An entire stretch was assigned to tourism interests at this year’s show which featured, among others, booths by Riu Hotel in Ocho Rios, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the JTB.

Professor Hall said addressing the critical problems affecting Jamaica’s traditional exports would require innovation and entrepreneurship. This, he said, also applies to the non-traditional exports.

“The times we are going through require all kinds of incentives to make agriculture profitable and attractive to investment,” he said, adding that the Denbigh show was proof that “we have many advantages on our side and we must now build on them”.

He said the sector had made great strides despite setbacks such as those experienced in recent years as a result of natural disasters.

“However much we make efforts to mitigate the effects of hurricanes, floods, droughts, considerable damage continues to be inflicted on our farmers,” he said, adding that scientists have indicated that climate change would impact significantly on the frequency and intensity of these natural disasters.

“I am afraid this is not good news. But it is encouraging that there is greater understanding and awareness of these dangers and the need for concerted international action and cooperation,” Professor Hall emphasised.

Competition and price fluctuations, he said, was a major challenge to local farmers and to overcome such a challenge would require greater adaptability and adjustment in their production methods.

“I need hardly remind our farmers that there are production constraints involving financial resources, infrastructure and productivity problems,” he said.

As such, he said it is important to identify the positive trends and new opportunities that can be exploited. Some of these, he added, are available through the application of science and technology which can help to transform production techniques.