Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer

Black River, St. Elizabeth:

Farmers in St. Elizabeth have been lauded for their dedication to agriculture by president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Norman Grant, who said that the parish was leading in crop production.

"With St. Elizabeth farmers producing 98,616.06 tonnes of agricultural produce in 2006, (it is) a 21.2 per cent increase when compared to the corresponding year in 2005," he pointed out. "This parish recorded the greatest yield in vegetables and fruits. The parish's production represents approximately 21 per cent of the production on the island," Senator Grant added.

Senator Grant was addressing the annual 'St. Bess Food Fest' at the Essex Valley show-ground in St. Elizabeth last Saturday.

The JAS president noted that the performance of the agricultural sector in 2006 was substantially better than projected when compared with the corresponding period in 2005 when there was a 7.3 per cent decline. He said domestic food production grew food production by at least 20 per cent in 2006.

He also noted that agricultural exports went up by 52.1 per cent due to growth in cocoa, coffee and banana production. "This year we are indeed hopeful to utilise even more technology in agriculture in order to boost productivity and export expansion," he said.

President of the JAS-St. Elizabeth Branch Society, Roy Morrison, said the annual show has provided a platform for the farmers to display their fresh produce and it will continue to be a major calendar event for the parish.