Farmers praised for helping to reduce Jamaica food import bill

With the $5.014 billion dollar decline in the country’s food import bill, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries,  Derrick Kellier is praising farmers in St. Ann, for their resilience and commitment, who, despite the drought conditions, successfully increased food production, which aided in the reduction of the country’s food import bill.

Addressing farmers recently  at the Frazer Church of God of Prophecy in Cascade and at Bamboo Square, St. Ann, Minister Kellier quoted statistics which indicate that the country’s food import bill declined by J$5.014 billion (US$43.6 million) last year, representing a 4.5 per cent reduction over the corresponding period in 2013.

“Agriculture is the backbone of the country and the largest employer of labour in Jamaica.  It is the most significant pillar in the growth agenda of the country.  In the last quarter we registered a 3.3 percent growth and that is fantastic coming out of the severity of the droughts we just had, continuing from last year,” Mr. Kellier said.