FORTY farmers from across the island are set to benefit from the recently launched Entrepreneurial Support Project which is being spearheaded by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS).

The project, which aims to improve the business skills of small farmers, was launched last week Wednesday Nutramix and St Jago’s Farm Supplies are partners in the project.

“We are just now coming on board at this capacity, but we have always supported JAS with training and access to our vets and workshops for this and other ventures,” Tina Hamilton, brand manager for Nutramix, explained.

“This project is aligned with who we are as a company. It is important for us to work with the farmers directly and, of course, to see Jamaicans uplifted. Entrepreneurship is something we believe in at CB Group, which is evident in our PAN and Bad Dawg projects. We have been supporters of farming programmes almost since inception,” she added.

Nutramix will give support through training as well as contributions of cash, livestock and feed.

“We have the expertise on livestock husbandry and nutrition, and, as the only agri-company in Jamaica that is ISO HACCP and GMP certified, we can help with information on business structure and best practices for farming,” Hamilton said of her company’s contribution.

Meanwhile, Janette Pullen, manager for marketing, training and projects at the JAS, said the organisation had undertaken previous entrepreneurial projects before in other parishes, but not on the scale of this one.

“The support means that the farmers are getting assistance in two different areas of the agricultural sector. We’ve had interventions in various communities; however, what we recognised is that the support was never there. This support project will provide assistance in poultry and cash crops,” Pullen explained.

Farmers in St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, Portland and Trelawny will benefit from the project.

“For now, we are starting in parishes that have entrepreneurial groups. The project is open for poultry, pig production, rabbits, and we are supporting it with lettuce, callaloo, carrots, cucumber and pak choi,” Pullen added.

The project will initially run for three years and thereafter will be fully revolving.