| KINGSTON, May 20 (JIS): |
 The
Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP), has approved 17 projects
totalling some $262 million, since its implementation in 2002, with
the ASSP’s own contribution being $122 million and the balance
contributed by the beneficiaries.Making his contribution to the 2004/05 Sectoral Debate at Gordon House on May 18, Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke said that “this islandwide spread of new productive projects has already shown signs of enhancing the competitiveness of our agricultural sector, and will positively impact on the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product”. Citing one of these projects, the Fodder Production Project, that was implemented by the Rhymesfield Dairy Co-operative in Clarendon, the Minister noted that it consisted of 25 farmers who are involved in producing fodder to manufacture a total mixed ration, thereby replacing imported concentrate feed, in a bid to lower milk production to increase the returns to the farmers. Another project implemented was the Honey Production and Marketing Project, which is executed by the All-Island Bee Farmers Association in Linstead, St. Catherine, which involves the establishment of a honey bottling plant, two Queen Bee nurseries, and training for farmers in disease control. The Green Adventures Limited Escallion Production Project was also set up in New Forest in Manchester, which is providing a clearinghouse for escallion producers in South West Manchester and South East St. Elizabeth. “I am pleased to announce that one of the major successes is the fact that the project participants have surpassed Walkerswood’s target of 10,000 pounds of escallion per week, and are currently supplying the company with a record 17,000 pounds per week,” the Minister said. The programme also implemented the Pig Industry Improvement Project, which is being implemented by Newport Mills Limited, in collaboration with Bodles Research Station in Old Harbour, St. Catherine. The purpose of this project is to reduce the cost of pork production through the supply of improved genetic stock. Other projects implemented include the Tilapia Expansion Project, which is being developed by Aquaculture Limited in St. Elizabeth; the Small Ruminant Development Project, being developed by the Sheep and Goat Farmers’ Association in St. Elizabeth; the Ornamental Fish Production Project in Shrewsbury, Portland; the Ice Cream Production and Marketing Project in Old Harbour, St. Catherine and the Vegetable Production, Processing and Marketing Project in Bull Savannah, St. Elizabeth. The ASSP is a US$31.5 million four-year programme, aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Jamaican agriculture in the domestic and global markets. The project, which falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, is funded by a US$22 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), together with a contribution of US$8.6 million from the Government of Jamaica, with the balance coming from the project beneficiaries. |
