KINGSTON, Jamaica —  Prime Minister Andrew Holness has hailed the resilience of Jamaica’s farmers, commending their increasing adoption of technology and research-driven practices to boost productivity, improve yields and enhance agricultural output.

Speaking at the official ceremony for the 72nd staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon, on Sunday, following a tour of the exhibition grounds, Holness said there is growing recognition that precision agriculture is not solely for large-scale producers.

“I’m impressed that there is a greater recognition by our farmers… even our small farmers… that agriculture is a science. Before, the only science that we used to apply to agriculture was the almanac. But now, I believe our farmers are understanding that they don’t need to be afraid of the science of agriculture, and more people are asking for soil tests to be done, because once they begin to understand the kind of soil they have, then they can properly select the kind of plants that they should grow,” he said.

The prime minister pointed out that any farmer can have their soil tested, noting that the integration of science and technology into agricultural practices enables farmers to make more informed decisions and operate with greater precision.

“You can increase your output, and you no longer have to say… ‘well, I am a small farmer’. That is the way to grow your agriculture, and that is a key change in the culture of agriculture,” he said.

Holness further noted that the adoption of technology in agriculture extends beyond mechanisation to include improved farming practices and the introduction of new crop varieties.

“People are bringing in new technology. We’re seeing drones and all kinds of things being used in agriculture now… and that’s very good. We’re also seeing new practices coming in. We’re seeing the towers [being used] to grow the leafy vegetables and all kinds of attempt at sustainable water usage… good practices,” he pointed out.

The prime minister said he was particularly encouraged by the sector’s growing emphasis on research to address existing challenges, and urged stakeholders to intensify these efforts in order to develop locally driven solutions to those challenges.

He highlighted the work of the Bodles Agricultural Research Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, and the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in this regard.

“I saw the CASE team doing research on how to reduce methane in feed for ruminants; that is good for the environment in terms of climate change but it also increases the growth of the ruminants, and this is what I want to see more of in agriculture – greater research in agriculture,” Holness said.

He noted that as the agricultural sector continues to gain greater recognition, stakeholders must be prepared to embrace new practices and modern approaches.

“We celebrate our agriculture because, historically, it has given us the means of survival. It is the basis of our independence… that has not changed. But it doesn’t mean that the way in which we have practised agriculture for the last four or five centuries must be the way that we continue to practise it,” he argued.

—   JIS