SIXTEEN STALWARTS from the St. Mary Chapter of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs were honoured for achievements and outstanding service to the organisation, over the past year, at their parish awards dinner held at Lovely Spot, Oracabessa, earlier this month.
Receiving awards were Noel Walker, Leebert Grant, Trevor Stoddard, Selvin Russell, George Burrows, Rudyard Greaves, Antonio Wright, Velma Walker, Mistelle Haughton, Avril Watson, Gladys Smith, Maureen Cunningham, Cynthia Loney, Esther Taylor, Ghalia Stewart and Rasheeda Hall.
Representative of the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture in Jamaica (IICA), Dr. Chelston Brathwaite, who was guest speaker, pointed to the need for structural changes in the bases of the Caribbean economies and agriculture as an important sector in these states, in line with the reality of the new global scenario. He underscored the importance of these changes laying the groundwork to better enable youth to participate in the development process.
"In order for agriculture to assist in the generation of employment opportunities for youth and make its full contribution to National Development, the concept of agriculture has to change. In the new scenario of the 21st century, agriculture must be viewed for what it is viz. the bedrock of the society and the cornerstone of the economy. We cannot develop if we import what we eat, drink and wear".
Dr. Brathwaite emphasised the need for agriculture to be thoroughly modernised to allow the Caribbean to take advantage of potential markets and maintain a competitive edge in the global marketplace necessary to succeed in today's market-driven world. To this end, he said that research should be client-driven to solve real problems which limit growth of agri-business, primary production and marketing of crops and livestock.
He added, "The agricultural sector and the food production sub-sector in particular will have to embrace new relevant technology, research and training. Technology must be an input into the production of products by an enterprise and not the output of a research institution. This is the paradigm shift that we must make. The research agenda must be determined and fashioned by actions to solve the real problems of agricultural enterprises."
The awards dinner was held in recognition of the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and was attended by Custos of St. Mary, Hon. Bobby Pottinger, State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, MP. for Western St. Mary, Hon. Terence Gillette, MP. for South-Eastern St. Mary, Harry Douglas and Chairman of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Winston Wright.
