Women and youth the focus
The twenty-eighth staging of the St. Mary Agri-Expo will be held on Easter Monday, Annotto Bay in St. Mary with the theme ‘Empowering Women and Youth through Agriculture.’
The St. Mary Association of Branch Societies of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) will host the show at Gray’s Inn, April 6.The media launch for the event was staged on Friday, March 6 at the Port Maria Civic Centre in Port Maria, St. Mary. The St. Mary Agri-Expo is said to be the second largest Agriculture show in Jamaica. Accordng to Glenville Hall, parish manager of RADA, St. Mary and co-chair of the 2015 Planning Committee, the feedback from patrons, sponsors and farmers all indicated that the 2014 Agri-Expo was a success and this year will be no exception. “The objective of the expo is to highlight agricultural, agro-processing and environmental practices as well as to provide educational opportunities and twining opportunities to the parish of St. Mary and the other parishes,” said Mr. Hall.
The show will seek to feature the best in Agricultural products, agro-processsing, horticultural exhibition, youth in agriculture competition and many others. The entertainment package includes kiddies corner with added attractions, magician, wrestling and banana eating contests.Several persons endorsed the staging of this year’s events. Among those were long time sponsors Jamaica Producers. Neil Crum Ewing, representing Jamaica Producers emphasized that his company is always ready to support Agriculture. “Jamaica Producers has a passion for St. Mary Agri-Expo Show and we always dedicate a portion of our budget towards this event as we recognize the importance this event has on the youth.”
Marketing Officer of Hi-Pro, another sponsor of the event, Denise Johnson noted that it was important for Hi-Pro to play its apart in showing the best local farmers of brand Jamaica.Keynote speaker, Senator Norman Grant, President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society commended the police for finally making serious attempts to address the issue of praedial larceny and urged all, especially the farmers to continue their thrust in making agriculture a viable vechicle to grow Jamaica’s economy. “All the stakeholders from farmers to the sponsors, the police and JAS must work together to make agriculture the engine of growth and prosperity in Jamaica,” he said. Sponsors for the 2015 St. Mary Agri-Expo include Hi-Pro, Jamaica Producers, JPS, RADA, SDC, Fersan, JN, Scotiabank and Nutamix.
