No Food Shortage Despite Drought

I write to express on behalf of The Board of Management of the Jamaica Agricultural Society and our 230,000 farmers its sincere congratulations to you and State Minister Honorable Luther Buchanan on your appointments as our new Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries and Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries respectively.

The JAS welcomes your appointments by the Most Honorable Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller and place on record our reserved commitment to work with the new leadership at the Ministry for the continuous and sustainable development the agricultural sector underpinned by rural development and food security. The JAS has always maintained that the agricultural sector is the lifeblood of the Jamaican economy and will be the pillars on which we must develop a framework for economic independence. The performance of the sector over the last 5 quarters has confirmed that it is the sector that has out performed any other sector to assist the country to register five consecutive successful reviews under the IMF arrangement. The farmers and the Jamaica Agricultural Society with your leadership remain committed to lead this transformation of our economy though agricultural development and expansion.

We would like to inform and share with you that the Jamaica Agricultural Society, with the usual support and collaboration of the Ministry and Agencies, will celebrate the 11th Anniversary of the Grow What We Eat Champaign in the month of November 2014 aimed at reducing US$1 billion food import bills through increased local production and the creation of real local jobs through agriculture and agro-processing.

The calendar of events for which we look forward to your support includes the following:

• November 2014 - "Eat Jamaican" Month
• November 5, 2014 - Board of Management Meeting & Launch of ‘Eat Jamaican' Day at 9:00 a.m. at the JAS Head Office
• November 9, 2014 -‘Eat Jamaican’ Thanksgiving Service at the New Beulah Moravian Church, Manchester at 10:00 a.m.
• November 25, 2014 - ‘Eat Jamaican’ Exposition on the Lawn of the Jamaica 4 H CLUB 94 Hope Road Kingston at 10:00     a.m.

We are available to meet with you at your convenience to discuss matters of interest pertaining to the sector.

We wish you God’s blessings and all the best in your office, as we partner to build Jamaica land we love and ensure a better quality of life for our people and in particular our farmers in our rural communities.