Manchester made history at Denbigh this year when it copped not only the top pavilion prize at Denbigh but all 10 sectional prizes. Parish manager for the Manchester office of the Rural Agricultural Development Agency, Donald Robinson, and Christiana Potato Co-op head, Alvin Murray, knocked heads together and came up with a brilliant concept for this year's pavilion. The 10 categories were: adaptable technology, youth involvement, community involvement, marketing potential, agro-business/agro-industry, home economics, initiative & resourcefulness, education input, environment sustainability and outstanding feature.

Adaptable Technology

The Christiana Potato Co-op erected a model greenhouse showing how to grow various vegetables. The use of solar energy and wind technology as a source of power supply for the greenhouse was demonstrated by Power Services Company Ltd (PSCL).

Youth Involvement

Interns from the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), working out of the Christiana Potato Co-op, demonstrated the tissue culture technology used to create seedlings.

Community Involvement

A revolving/upgrading goat scheme was highlighted. This scheme distributes goats to farmers who return two goats at some point in the future. Choice bucks are given to farmers to upgrade the quality of goats being reared within the parish. By-products from the goat skin were demonstrated by Mr Longmore and the use of goat milk to make cheese, by Lise Bouffard.

Marketing Potential

The Mile Gully Production and Marketing Organisation demonstrated how they run a fortnightly market in Mile Gully square to ensure that farmers' produce are brought to market and not left in the field. Also highlighted in this category was a recent initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and RADA which saw 160,000lb of Irish potato being purchased from farmers and stored at the Christiana Potato Co-op. The potatoes are now being slowly distributed into the market.

Agro-Business and Agro-Industry

This segment highlighted manufacturers within the parish who are involved in agro-processing. Some of these were Jamaica Standard Products with their line of Blue Mountain and High Mountain coffees, TOPS with their line of teas and Country House Products showcasing their body-care line and teas.

Home Economics

Creative ways to use local produce were highlighted with emphasis on Irish potato to make dishes such as puddings and wines.

Initiative & Resourcefulness

This segment was subject to the judges' opinion on whether the pavilion demonstrated initiative and resourcefulness.

Educational Input

The Manchester pavilion scored big in this category as they used various methods to educate the public. Some of the items used were: videos, posters, books, pamphlets, CDs and computer software to demonstrate energy savings using their solar and wind technology. The ability of all personnel to explain their various areas to the judges was a big plus for the Manchester team.

Environment Sustainability

A model was used to demonstrate a farm using the bitter damsel tree instead of the usual yam sticks on a five-acre yam farm. Instead of cutting down trees and using them for yam sticks each yam season, the trees were grown and used on an ongoing basis. The farmer, however, needs to rotate the areas where the yam is planted each season. Another highlight in this category was water harvesting. This showed that the mined-out pits within the parish can be used for water catchment to aid in irrigation including in the operation of greenhouses.

Outstanding Feature

The major crops under the Production and Productivity Programme, JBI Project and the Domestic Food Crop Project from the eight extensions within the parish were on display.

The true spirit of community involvement was at work in the pavilion in keeping with their theme: 'Community Renaissance through Diversification and Technology'. A number of entities came together to make it work.