THE TURNOUT was low and rain threatened, but those who attended the first day's activity of Denbigh Agricultural Show 2000 were not disappointed.Patrons were treated to the displays of various parishes and sponsors who showcased the best fruits, vegetables, plants, art and craft and technology they had to offer.
Under the theme "Technology half way to agricultural productivity and competitiveness" the event, which ends tomorrow, is seeking to teach interested persons how to use technology to protect the environment and improve agriculture.
There were many activities to occupy those who attended, but one high point yesterday involved the demonstration of a car made by farmers from Clarendon, which they said was used to carry water during the drought. The car was made of wood, zinc and parts from old cars, but functioned like a regular car.
On hand to view the displays were a host of Jamaica Agricultural Society members and Ministers of Government, including Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke. In his address later, the Prime Minister said that the survival of agriculture, depended on being able to use technology to improve productivity and subsequently competitiveness.
"The possibilities for even greater productivity improvement through bio-technological application are ever increasing with each passing day. The old method must be replaced with modern technology," Mr. Patterson said.
He pointed out that new developments in technology such as molecular genetics and DNA techniques afforded them a way to increase productivity. The Prime Minister, however, cautioned that farmers could not gain access to markets in other countries while at the same time Jamaica's domestic markets were operating behind productive barricade. He added that Jamaica could not afford to miss out on enormous benefits from new market developments like natural products, when the island produced a number of crops which were ideal for the production of these natural products.
Mr. Patterson stated that the Government had embarked on a number of plans, among them, a national irrigation development plan, that was created in association with the Inter American Development Bank. He said that pilot areas had been selected and that the Government was now seeking funds for implementing the projects.
The Prime Minister also told the audience that the Government had set up a bio-safety committee under the National Council on Science and Technology, to look at genetically modified foods as there were moral and ethical issues involved, one of which was that the food should be properly labelled to give consumers a choice of whether or not to buy it.
The agricultural show will continue tomorrow and culminate on Monday, Independence Day.
