Contributed
Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton (front, centre) poses with a contingent of Rural Agricultural Development Authority extension officers, two researchers and a farmer in front of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture office. The group left the island for a one-month training programme in Costa Rica on Thursday.

A farmer, along with 10 Rural Agricultural Development Authority extension officers and two researchers, left Jamaica for Costa Rica on Thursday.

The contingent left the island for a one-month intensive training programme in advanced principles and management of greenhouse technology, hydroponics and organic agriculture - all tailored to tropical conditions.

This follows a recently signed memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) for the joint funding of this training programme.

The IICA programme is aimed at capacity building in these three farming methods, which are proven to increase productivity and profitability, based on their exceptionally high yields and increased cropping cycle.