KINGSTON, Jamaica – High praises have come from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) for the support provided to the agriculture sector by the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), managed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

Speaking at a symposium to close out the REDI programme at the UWI Mona Visitors’ Lodge yesterday Permanent Secretary in the ministry Donovan Stanberry hailed the programme as “a shining example of joined-up Government”, having involved the collaboration of several Government agencies and stakeholders.

Stanberry, in thanking REDI for its investment in the sector since 2008, noted the infrastructure, such as irrigation systems and agro-processing facilities, which had been provided through the programme to several farming communities across the island.

Beyond this, however, Stanberry stressed, was the contribution that REDI has made to the strengthening of rural communities through the empowerment of people in their own communities. This, he said, would facilitate rural development and minimise the rural-urban drift along with the accompanying socio-economic challenges.

Based on the contribution of the programme, Stanberry declared: “We are ready for another REDI” The permanent secretary, who represented the agriculture ministry, was among several speakers participating in the symposium to close out the programme which was introduced in 2007 and which comes to end on July 31, 2017.