Japanese Ambassador, Isao Otsuka (right) joins Senator Norman Grant, managing director of the Mavis Bank Central Factory Ltd, in examining coffee beans during a tour of the factory earlier this week. - Contributed A NUMBER of policies will be introduced by the new administration of the Jamaica Agricultural Society(JAS) at the society's annual agricultural show at Denbigh, Clarendon, this weekend.
Speaking to the Farmer's Weekly earlier this week, newly elected president of the society, Senator Norman Grant, said that he has had a very busy week visiting interested parties to discuss alliances which will be necessary for the success of the policies.
However, he said that the JAS was only interested in forging new alliances which will be of benefit to the sector and the society. "I am looking for clear winners," he said.
Senator Grant said that his administration was convinced that local produce could successfully compete with imports with the kind of support that is afforded farmers in those countries. He said that people who failed to recognise this were not comparing "mangoes with mangoes."
He named beef, as one area that the JAS would be launching into quickly.
BEEF SHORTAGE
He said that a serious beef shortage was envisaged over the next three-four years, as the island sought to resurrect the industry from effects of the Mad Cow Disease scare.
"We are proposing that major beef distributors develop a system of contracting out the job to small farmers, the same way that Jamaica Broilers contract out the raising of chickens. The companies would provide the inputs and the farmers would do the farming and sell back the product to the major distributor at a fair price," he explained.
However, he said that for this system to work the major distributors would have to include the provision of modern technology in the list of inputs in order to make their prices more competitive.
He said that he has already started meetings with the major distributors, including Jamaica Broilers, to get that programme started.
Senator Grant said that he has also met with representatives of PriceWaterhouse on a management audit to detail the position of JAS assets as at April 1, 2003. He expects that the audit will start by mid-August and a progressive report made available by October.
"I need to have something in my hand that I can walk into a bank with," Senator Grant said.
ISSUES
Other issues the president said would be dealt with this weekend include:
Franchising JAS farm stores to persons with business experience.
Keeping Denbigh open throughout the year, instead of only for the annual show. He said that after this weekend's show the grounds will remain open and a more comprehensive plan for regular use of its facilities will be instituted.
A membership drive: A liaison officer is to be appointed to concentrate on membership. The aim is to double the current 26,000 in 18-24 months.
Updates on long-standing issues like the Praedial Larceny Act, the central marketing system; food security.
Strengthening the infrastructural framework to reposition the JAS as an important sectoral organisation.
