Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer

BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarke, has said that productivity has to be the order of the day if agriculture is to survive in Jamaica.

Mr. Clarke was addressing farmers at the official launch of the Hounslow/ Pedro Plains Producers Association Crop Production Project (HPPPACPP) , held at Hounslow Farm, in Ridge Pen, St Elizabeth, on Thursday.

"As farmers you have to start producing enough goods for the local market before you can think about the export market. And, in saying this, productivity has to be your main focus if agriculture is to move forward," Mr. Clarke told the farmers who were present for the launch.

He also used the occasion to announce that a new flavour extraction factory has been established in Bull Savannah, St. Elizabeth, where farmers can sell their produce. He said the time has finally come when fresh produce will no longer rot in the field. "A lucrative alternative has been found," he declared.

Speaking with The Gleaner following the launch, president of the HPPPACPP, Sylvan Honeyghan, said the group was established in 2004, and it involves eleven farmers utilising 50 acres of prime agricultural land.

Local, export market

"Our focus is to produce crops such as pumpkins, sweet potatoes and peanuts for both the local and export market. Not long from now we will be going into the production of hot peppers and tomatoes," Mr. Honeyghan said.

To assist them in their activities the farmers received a tractor, a truck, as well as other farming equipment through the Agriculture Ministry's support services project.