PORT ANTONIO:
PLANS FOR the harvesting and marketing of pimento berries are being implemented by the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS) branch in Portland.
The 2000/2001 pimento season was declared officially opened by the JAS, on August 14. According to Thelma Williams, parish manager of the JAS in Portland, this premier crop is used as preservation purposes, a spice, and also as a liqueur.
The JAS has set a new target, hoping to acquire 35 new branches by March 2001, also identified an environmental sustainable programme and is in dialogue with the Portland Environmental Protection Association (PEPA) to assist them in this new development, where five branches will be involved in the environmental exercise.
The annual agriculture expo will be held at Manchioneal, and plans are in place for an agricultural show.
According to Miss Williams not much has been done in Portland regarding horticulture, adding that she intends to get other women from other JAS branches involved.
Commenting on Portland's achievement at last month's Denbigh Agricultural Show in Clarendon, Miss Williams had high praises for Renard Thompson, banana farmer, who won the national first prize and Mrs. Donna Maragh, pig farmer, who won second prize, along with Florazel Valentine, most improved farmer and Glenton Cole, second prize winner in the banana competition.
