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GECAFS/SANREM WORKSHOP June 16-17, 2005 Georgetown, Guyana. Ministry of Agriculture Perspectives Jamaica Joseph Lindsay. Major Environmental Issues. Frequency of hurricanes Storm surges and coastal erosion Unpredictable rainfall Frequency of flooding Frequency of droughts
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GECAFS/SANREM WORKSHOP June 16-17, 2005Georgetown, Guyana Ministry of Agriculture Perspectives Jamaica Joseph Lindsay
Major Environmental Issues • Frequency of hurricanes • Storm surges and coastal erosion • Unpredictable rainfall • Frequency of flooding • Frequency of droughts • Fires-loss agriculture, bio-diversity • Increase incidence of soil salinization • Soil erosion and deforestation • Threat of the effects of pests/diseases: Viruses, CTV; Lethal Yellowing,
Major Environmental Issues • Loss of best agricultural lands to housing/infrastructure • Reef destruction • Loss of mangrove swamps to hotel, ports and roads and pollution
Agricultural Strategy 2005-2008 • Competitive Agricultural Sector • Ensure national food security • Expansion of agricultural products • Provision of raw materials for agro-industry • Investment of US$500m from Govt. and private sector
Linkages • Tourism-Agriculture-Linkages • -Targeting food production for tourism industry hence market for > 4million • Eco-tourism • Youth in Agriculture • Poverty Alleviation • Rural development/Job creation/rural • Agro-industrial development
Priority Policy Objectives • Competitiveness studies • Adopting commodity ‘industry approach • Reduction in environmental degradation and increased reforestation/agro forestry • Improvement in watershed management • Fruit/Tree crop development-14 fruit tree crops • Organic Farming • Good Agricultural Practices • Improvement in irrigation
Priority • Apiculture • Aquaculture • Small ruminant development • Biodiversity/improvement germplasm • Agricultural Health and Food Safety/Plant Health Database • National Research Coordination Mechanism
Jamaican Collaborators • Universities: UWI-UWICED, Geography, NCU; • CIDA-Forestry:agroforestry/Watershed • Planning Institute of Jamaica • FAO: Fruit Tree Crops • Jamaica Bauxite Institute-mining/degradation land rehabilitation • National Council on Science and Technology • National Environment and Planning Agency • Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management