28 November 2016 - Business View Caribbean
for organic farming. And that is pursued, primarily,
through the greenhouse concept of aquaponics. We’re
trying to increase that because the demand for it is
growing, especially where you don’t apply any fertiliz-
ers and chemicals. It hasn’t gotten to the level where
we have reached any standard where we can now start
to promote a massive export program based on organ-
ic farmers’ produce, but we certainly will be moving in
that direction and we’re trying to encourage everyone
to do that kind of agriculture.”
BVM: What are your goals for the next year, or even
for the next several years, and what challenges are
there to overcome?
Samuda:
“We’re trying to train our farmers in agricul-
tural techniques; how to improve production; how to
expand output; how to be consistent; how to engage
in appropriate farming practices that will protect our
final products against anything that would have them
rejected when we export them or be resisted domesti-
cally by the consuming public of Jamaica. We want to
produce the best agricultural products, possible. And
that can only be done with appropriate training and
appropriate technologies. We do that through what we
call ‘agri-parks,’ where we introduce into a geographi-
cal area the necessary infrastructure – water, energy,
good farming practices, adequate roads, all the neces-
sary supplies in the quantities, necessary, to get the
best output.
“And we’re trying to expand our sources of water to
service the agricultural sector. Far too much of our irri-
gable land is without actual irrigation at this time, and
we are relying on rain-fed irrigation. We are trying to
ensure that more water reaches the best agricultural
lands in the country, where we feel that we can ex-
pand, exponentially, the output.
BVM: Can you speak a little about the fishing indus-
try in Jamaica?
Samuda:
“That’s an area that we can expand. We are
limited in our fisheries to servicing our subsistence
needs. We do export conch and, to some extent, we
export some of the lobsters that we harvest. But the
industry is not one that produces sufficient raw ma-
terials to process and export in any major quantities.
We have to start exploring the possibilities of the pe-
lagic, migratory fish that live in the deeper waters. But
it’s very expensive and, so far, the types of activities in
those areas are rather limited. But, we’re looking at it
to see what we can do to engage in that kind of fishing.
BVM: In summation, what are some of the most im-
portant points you would like our readers to know
about your Ministry?
Samuda:
“That Jamaica has embarked on a model of
agricultural expansion, and improvement of the lives
of farmers that includes the holders of capital part-
