MONTEGO BAY, St James — The Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security is in the process of upgrading the dairy programmes at agricultural education institutions across the country.

A total of $30.5 million has been allocated for the initiative, which is being undertaken through the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB).

“The Ministry recognises that our agricultural education institutions must be centres of [excellence] if we are to have a cadre of professionals that we can dispatch as entrepreneurs and technical personnel,” said State Minister Luther Buchanan.

He was addressing the Knockalva Agricultural School’s 75th Anniversary Expo held at the institution’s campus in Hanover on Wednesday.

Institutions to benefit are the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland; Ebony Park HEART Academy, Clarendon; Sydney Pagon Agricultural School, St Elizabeth; and Knockalva.

Under the programme, some 100 heifers will be distributed to the targeted institutions, and the dairy units at the schools are to be revamped “to have them function as centres for best practices in dairy production”.

Work has already begun at CASE, which has had its tutorial farm improved upon and has recieved scholarships valued at $18 million.

“Over the periods 2015/2016 and 2017/2018, the needs of the dairy units at the remaining institutions, including Knockalva, will be addressed,” Buchanan said.

Activities for the week-long 75th anniversary celebrations at Knockalva Agricultural School included: a campus service; an award and fund-raising banquet; and a past students’ reunion.

— JIS