PRESIDENT of the Republic of Haiti Michel Martelly says two agricultural enterprises he visited in Jamaica are worth replicating in his country.

Martelly and Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Roger Clarke toured the Jamaica Broilers production facility in Spring Village, and the Government’s Agro Park in Amity Hall, both in St Catherine. A section of the park is used by Caribbean Broilers to grow sorghum, a replacement for imported animal feed.

President Martelly told journalists that the employment of 1,600 people at the Spring Village plant was of particular interest to him. He also made special note that the enterprises reduce the need for imports.

“This is a good way to bring money into the country, instead of importing all [the] goods,” he said.

“I was very happy to see that, and the fact that Jamaica Broilers is investing in Haiti. The enterprise down there is much smaller, but we expect to grow bigger and allow more people to get jobs in Haiti,” the president added, while outlining the effort that he will be making to establish agro park-type facilities in Haiti.

Meanwhile, Clarke said he and his Haitian counterpart Jacques Thomas have met and identified areas of collaboration between the two countries.

The Haitian minister, according to Clarke, has pointed to specific ways in which Jamaica can help Haiti’s agro-sector.

“We can share our experience with him, and he has already noted some of the things (on which) he would like me to move forward with him, and we are going to be working very closely to make sure that something concrete happens,” the minister said.

President Martelly and his 11-team delegation, who were in the island on a three-day state visit, left the island on Friday.

— JIS