Minister of Agriculture Dr. Christopher Tufton (left) speaks with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Donovan Stanberry, during a press briefing held yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture, Hope Gardens, to discuss activities scheduled for the 'Caribbean Week of Agriculture', to be celebrated from October 8 to 13. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Strengthening the link between agriculture and tourism to increase the benefits of both sectors will be the main focus of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, according to Dr. Christopher Tufton, the minister responsible for the sector.

The week will be celebrated from October 8 to 13 and will be hosted by the Jamaican Government at the Grand Bahía Príncipe Hotel in Runaway Bay, St. Ann.

The Agriculture Minister yesterday outlined the details of the week of activities at a press conference at his ministry's Old Hope Road, St. Andrew, office.

Dr. Tufton said the primary objectives of the forum are to raise the profile of agriculture within the region and to foster networking relationships in trade and policy development.

Agriculture Week, which will be held under the theme 'Agriculture - Harvesting Wealth Through Tourism', was chosen to highlight the natural synergies between the two sectors and the potential business linkages that can be forged, Dr. Tufton said.

"This theme is particularly apt because tourism is in effect, one of the largest foreign-exchange earners for most of the countries within the region, thereby providing a captive market for our primary agricultural production," he noted.

Among the highlights of the forum are an agri-business exposition, an agro-tourism workshop, an agricultural risk-management seminar, and a Caribbean agricultural forum of youth.

The minister said he hoped that following the week of celebration, tthere would be an increase of local agricultural products within the hotels.

Some 15 CARICOM member states are expected to attend, and about 200 participants at the regional and international levels.