JAS expecting 60,000 to attend Denbigh 2022
PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Lenworth Fulton says he expects more than 60,000 patrons to attend the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show from July 30 to August 1.
“We are expecting a strong delegation from The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Barbados and visitors [from] Africa,” Fulton told JIS News.
The 68th staging of the show is a collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the JAS, and will be held under the theme: ‘Grow What We Eat … Eat What We Grow: Grow Smart … Eat Smart’. The event, which is considered the premier agro-industrial show in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean, took a two-year break due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Fulton said the ministry has invested more than $20 million in cash for this year’s staging, which he said represents the largest amount from the Government since the show started in 1953. It will cost approximately $80 million to host the show.
The first day, Saturday, July 30, will be designated ‘Youth in Agriculture Day’ and will feature young people and farmers from across the island. A youth village will be hosted under the theme: ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart’, in support of the ministry’s Grow Smart … Eat Smart initiative which will be launched during the show. The village will showcase aspects of precision agriculture, grow smart agri-techniques, aquaponics and hydroponics displays, agro-processing and food diversification. The major highlight will be the display of entries of youth farmers who entered the Grow Smart Competition.
The National Farm Queen Coronation; a children and family village; health and wellness village; small business village; horticultural displays; agricultural displays and a farmers’ market are among the other highlights.
In addition, there will be a youth in agriculture competition; parish pavilion competition; and the small ruminants (goat and sheep) competition. There will be nightly concerts, including the Hi-Pro Denbigh Gospel Extravaganza on Sunday, and the Denbigh Reggae Fest on Monday.
