President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Lenworth Fulton, says he expects more than 60,000 patrons to attend the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show, from July 30 to August 1.

“We are also 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 COVID-19 pandemic.

Fulton said the Ministry has invested over $20 million in cash to this year’s staging, and this represents the largest amount from the Government since the show started in 1953.

It will cost approximately $80 million to host the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial 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. The 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.

This 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 Youth Farmers who entered the Grow Smart Competition, and will be displaying their entries.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pearnel Charles Jr, is scheduled to attend on Saturday. The National Farm Queen Coronation will close off the day’s activities.

The Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen will be in attendance on Sunday, July 31, while Prime Minister Andrew Holness will attend the show on Monday, August 1.

Other features of this year’s show include: a children and family village; health and wellness village; small business village; horticultural displays; agricultural displays and a farmers’ market.

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, the Hi-Pro Denbigh Gospel Extravaganza on Sunday, and the Denbigh Reggae Fest on Monday.

Sponsors for Denbigh 2022 include the Jamaica Broilers Group, Hi-Pro, H&L Agro, St Jago Farm Supplies, Versan and the Ministry.

Gates will open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. The cost for each day will be $1,200 for adults and $600 for children.

– JIS