Claude Wilson, Freelance writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE DEVELOPMENT of local agriculture sector through animal and plant genetics, poultry production, and food crop technology has long positioned Jamaican agriculture in nearness to that of first world agriculture.
Browsing through a Ministry of Agriculture's Investigations bulletin is indicative of the kind of applied scientific studies that are available throughout the agricultural sub-sectors.
However, some of these major research findings have not been the basis of any form of handbooks outside of the compendium research bulletin published by the Ministry of Agriculture that is read by only a few.
Most agricultural newsletters are not produced for general circulation and are not benefiting those at the forefront of production. So, there has always been the complaint of a scarcity of printed material to inform, educate and provide guide to aspects of agriculture production.
Over the years, for most students of agriculture and farmers, trek to Denbigh and other agricultural shows is a chance to collect printed material put out by various exhibiting entities. In most cases, these information pieces are prepared for the shows and are sometimes withdrawn from public access until another show.
So, despite the wealth of knowledge available in agriculture too little of this are committed to the print. But, things are changing. We are seeing more newsletters, magazine type information brochures and other written works on agriculture being made available for sale or gratis to the benefit of the interested public.
For instance, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Goat Breeders Society of Jamaica has just published the Goat Production Handbook. According to Permanent Secretary Aaron Parke, this manual will enable (goat) farmers to become familiar with latest technological advancements within the sector as well as to be used as a training manual in goat husbandry. This manual is packed with information to guide goat farmers and is a useful introduction for student to learn skills in goat rearing.
A number of private and other public organisations in agriculture have and are putting out periodicals with news and information concerning the sector they represent and there is also a few handbook guide to production.
Master Blend Feeds has led in assisting the farmers with practical information to livestock farmers through its publications, Feeding & Management of Pigs, Feeding the Horse, Broiler Management and Feeding Guide among others. The Agri-Business News is a publication of the Agri-Business Council of Jamaica and has a strong editorial team that includes Drs. Arnoldo Ventura and Aston Wood.
This four-page newsletter is a repository of local, regional and international agri-business news, with a question and answer page. Its most recent edition continues a very eye-opening analyst of the declining yam industry. Public sector organisation, The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has started a quarterly publication called Extend.
Very well presented, the inaugural September 2001 issue touches on some topical issues, and highlighted projects under the organisation's portfolio and aspects of farm practice.
The Coconut Industry Board (CIB) news piece The Coconut Growers offers interesting and topical news of the coconut industry. There have been two issues of The Farmer, the quarterly publication of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS). This newsletter not only provides information on the works of that organisation but also provide bits of technical knowledge in crop and livestock production for the benefit of their islandwide
membership.
There are certainly other publications available that are providing information and support to the agricultural sector but these are yet to reach Farmers Weekly desk.
