Technology to drive the agricultural sector

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Stephen Wedderburn (right) preparing the soil to plant the Ministry’s Rose Apple tree. Assisting Mr. Wedderburn is Principal of Knox Community College, Rev. Gordon Cowans. Occasion was the Knox Community College 3rd annual Agri Expo, held at the Spalding Campus, on April 5, 2017.

One key priority of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries is to continue to promote the use of technology as a critical tool in growing the agricultural sector.

This was stated by the Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Stephen Wedderburn, who also stressed the importance of agriculture as a career choice for young people and introducing it in schools at an early age.

He said that including agricultural technology in school programmes was of critical importance since the application of technology to agriculture was a key component of modernizing the sector.

Mr. Wedderburn, who was representing Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon. Karl Samuda, was speaking at the Knox Community College’s 3rd Annual Agri Expo, held at their Spalding Campus in Manchester on April 5.

He noted that, “it is technology that is going to help us sow faster, reap more efficiently, and move primary agricultural produce up along the value chain to agro-processing and packaging, which are essential to adding value and expanding revenue in the sector”.

The Chief Technical Director commended the school for the success they have achieved since introducing Agricultural Technology in their Degree Programmes.

“What you are doing here at Knox is exemplary, especially because it represents a model for youth involvement in the agricultural sector,” he said.

He further noted that for Jamaica to succeed in achieving growth and sustainability in the agricultural sector, it is going to require the increased involvement of young people. “I certainly believe that it is you, the young men and women of today, who will occupy the positions of leadership in our country”, he stated.

Mr. Wedderburn encouraged the students to take the business of agriculture seriously and that they should start planning their careers, as the sector is a space in which they can become entrepreneurs, and create growth and jobs for themselves and the country.

In his remarks, Principal of Knox Community College, Rev. Gordon Cowans said that “the strongest communities in Jamaica are those that are involved in agriculture using new technologies”.

He further added that this was the only way out for Jamaica to move out of poverty and create a wealthier society. The principal also encouraged the students to seriously think of agriculture as a career choice and get enrolled in the Associate Degree in Agricultural Technology programme which is now being offered at the community college.

A number of students from primary and high schools throughout Manchester and Clarendon participated in the expo, which was geared towards changing the mindset of young people in their approach to agricultural opportunities.
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Contact:
Director, Communication & Public Relations
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries
Hope Gardens, Kingston 6
T – 618-7128; E: pr2@micaf.gov.jm; daoconnor@micaf.gov.jm
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