The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) representative to Jamaica, Dr. Dunstan Campbell, is urging the Government to place greater focus on rural development to reduce poverty and address rural-urban drift.

"Jamaica must work towards an aggressive policy of looking at rural development," he said, while addressing the launch of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Rabbit Project last week Tuesday at the Rosehall 4-H Training Centre in St. Catherine.

Dr. Dunstan said Government stakeholders should collaborate more closely on key issues that impact on the lives of people in rural communities to create a multi-sectoral approach for the sustainability of rural development policies.

Change our thinking

"If we are to address the issue of poverty," he noted, "we will have to change our way of thinking.

The FAO representative noted that organisations such as the 4-H movement, were making an "extremely" important contribution to the development of rural communities and the youth in particular, and "this rabbit project will continue to provide an opportunity for you (the clubs) to have an impact on the youth and for you to contribute to the economy."

Executive director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Lenworth Fulton, said the approximately US$20,000 ($1.3 million) rabbit project, funded by the FAO, would increase the economic viability of the 4-H Clubs, especially the Rosehall Training Centre, while offering agricultural training for its clubites.

Mr. Fulton said the organisation would be submitting a proposal to the FAO for a similar project to be established in another parish.