PASSLEY GARDENS, Portland — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Pearnel Charles Jr has challenged students and alumni of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) to be the epicentre of agricultural development as the country shores up its food production levels.

CASE, he said, is a key component in efforts to ensure food security in Jamaica.

Speaking last Friday at the TP Lecky Hall on the CASE campus during the celebration of the alumni association’s 113th anniversary, he told the gathering that despite Jamaica’s impressive production levels, there is more work to be done.

“We are happy because we have recorded the highest level of production for the last two years — and I give thanks to the farmers and fishers for 2020 and 2021. We have broken the record consecutively and let me tell you a secret: 2022 is the first time in Jamaica that we have recorded over 800 tons of domestic crops,” he said.

He cautioned, however, that with challenges such as climate change and the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, even domestic crop production of “800,000 won’t be enough”.

“Our goal is not to be happy because we are breaking records; our goal is to always be ambitious to drive towards sustainability towards the sector and for our country. Agriculture is the backbone of Jamaica’s economy,” he stressed.

CASE, he said, has a role to play in the years ahead and he promised that the Government will continue to support the institution.

“Last year, under what we define as the agricultural educational institutional project, we provided CASE with a donation of $2 million toward their dairy project; $350,000 to establish a production market spanning over 20 acres in this parish; and this year we continue our support to CASE,” said Charles Jr.

“We will be giving technical assistance with some peppers and financial support to establish new enterprises and to push you as students and staff members to be the epicentre of research and development for our region, to be the innovators and creators to move agriculture into the new era. It is important when you hear your minister talk about eat smart, grow smart, you are smart,” he added.

He emphasised the vital role the college has to play in the agricultural development of the country and the region.

“This institution, CASE, is critical to us as a country achieving food security. It is critical to us as a country to enable us to have sustainable agriculture because we must frame up the next era of agricultural scientists, economic agriculturists who will be able to take agriculture to another level and to challenge us to be better every single day,” he said. “I appreciate the students who are here who selected this institution as their place of learning. You are the future of Jamaica.”

The minister challenged the institution and all its stakeholders to make an impact on the agricultural sector.

“Your projects have to be so good that even when you leave they continue to do them and produce. Agriculture for me is opportunity, agriculture for me and many is life so we need to grow smart and eat smart,” he urged.

According to president of CASE Dr Derrick Deslandes, there are efforts being made to harness technology to enhance lessons at the institution and benefit the wider sector.

“We are trying to get as close as we can to the cutting edge of agricultural development. We are negotiating the transfer of a number of drones that will assist us in terms of using drone spraying and advanced technology into the business sector as we think of how we assist farmers to reduce cost. If our farmers are not efficient they will not survive,” he said.

“When we look at the number, it says we are producing a lot but we can be more efficient and produce much more efficiently and competitively. We are reshaping our module to reflect our focus on competitiveness,” he added.

According to Deslandes, they are in dialogue with HEART/NSTA Trust to have students certified in areas not typically associated with agriculture. The aim is for their students to leave the college with a degree plus certification in several areas.

“The most exciting one is drone technology. We want to certify our students with drone technology as that is the next frontier. We are into aquaphonics and hydroponics, and we are now designing and distributing aquaphonic and hydroponic tissues across the country,” he said.