Ministry of Agriculture & Land
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Agricultural Production Up in Hanover
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MONTEGO BAY, (JIS):
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
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Agricultural production in the parish of Hanover has been on the increase, showing a 10.9 per cent movement in 2005 in comparison to 2004.
According to Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Parish Manager in Hanover, Bernard Goffe, although there was a decline of
5.6 per cent nationally during the same comparative periods, the parish of Hanover stood tall with its increase in production.
Mr. Goffe was addressing the annual general meeting of the Hanover Association of Branch Societies, held in Lucea, recently.
He said that in terms of the amount of hectares reaped in Hanover, there was a 13.2 per cent increase in 2005 over 2004, which was reflective in the increase of tonnage reaped. "This is an indication that irrespective of hardships and the complaints that they have, farmers are making money in this parish," he said.
The Manager pointed out that the positive attitude that the farmers had adopted was carried over into the performance of the parish at the 2005 Denbigh Agricultural Show, and was recognized and commended nationally.
He called for continued co-operation between the farmers and the RADA staff within the parish, to keep the momentum going.
Mr. Goffe noted that the Hanover RADA office has established a plant nursery, capable of handling up to 21,000 seedlings. He said that this facility was having a positive effect on the agricultural production in Hanover and also in the adjoining parish of St. James.
He said that the seedlings produced at the nursery were of good quality and urged the farmers to continue to utilize the facility. He added that plans were being put in place to expand the capacity of the nursery to be able to produce up to 50,000 seedlings.
Mr. Goffe explained that the RADA office was awaiting the arrival of a sprinkler irrigation system to complete the new and expanded nursery.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture and Land, through RADA; Members of Parliament from the parish, and the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) have all contributed funds to finance the nursery.
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