Tufton back from official visit to Canada

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dr Christopher Tufton recently completed a one-week tour of Canada, participating in a number of activities geared towards strengthening the collaboration in agriculture between that country and Jamaica.

During his visit Tufton met with Gerry Ritz, Canada's minister of agriculture and agri-food; Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the province of Ontario, Carol Mitchell; and Margrett Best, the sole Jamaican government minister sitting in the provincial parliament of Ontario.

Tufton also had discussions with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Development Research Centre, Canadian Dairy Commission, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian Livestock Association and the Inter-American Institute for Corporation in Agriculture (IICA).

Visited Guelph

The minister visited the University of Guelph where he held discussion with a number of faculty members involved in agricultural research and training and signed a memorandum of understanding between that university and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to colla-borate on various areas of applied research, including the development of the diary and tropical fruits industries. The signing of the MOU was expected to be followed by a visit to Jamaica by a delegation from Guelph early next year.

The agriculture minister held meetings with several potential Canadian investors, organised by JAMPRO, to explore possible agricultural investment opportunities in Jamaica, particularly in the export of root crops and spices.

The minister also addressed Jamaican diaspora groups in Toronto and Ottawa and participated in Jamaica's independence celebrations in Ottawa.