Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer
MANDEVILLE, Manchester:
THE SCIENTIFIC Research Council (SRC) shared vital technical information on crop production and value-added diversification with farmers recently.
The meeting, which facilitated cultivators from Comma Pen and surrounding areas of south St. Elizabeth and Manchester, was held at the Comma Pen Church of God of Prophecy.
Many of the attendees were particularly impressed with the opportunities available by the SRC to process their produce and market them as finished products.
They were also keen to learn more about the SRC's blueprint for organic fertiliser which can be produced from raw material they already have on hand.
Channer Morgan, a scallion farmer, said she did not know how to get rid of the waste material from her farm until the SRC came.
She now plans to build a compost house to produce natural fertiliser for her farm which will eliminate the use of traditional fertiliser.
Roselyn Fisher, general manager of marketing at the SRC, encouraged the farmers to make their products more competitive by adding value. For example, using their excess in-season products to make sauces, juices and jellies.
RESEARCH
She said the SRC has already done a lot of research and has formulas which are readily available to the farmers for immediate use at a small charge.
The farmers were also told that the equipment to process their produce are already in place at the SRC and can be used by them, eliminating the need to establish a processing plant in the near future.
This, the farmers said, was a surprise to them, and they lamented the amount of produce they have lost over the years because they were not aware of the services of the SRC.
President of the St. Elizabeth JAS, Mr. Damion Baker lauded the SRC for reaching out to the farmers while stressing the value of the information passed on. Member of Parliament for north west St. Elizabeth , Mr. J.C. Hutchinson also praised the SRC and called for the agency to stage similar meetings in other parts of the parish.
