Tufton bids adieu - Assures agriculture stakeholders ministry left in good hands

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

Dr Christopher Tufton was upbeat about his new ministerial portfolio yesterday and expressed confidence in the legacy inherited by incoming Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Robert Montague, just hours before both men were officially sworn in yesterday.

Tufton was touring the farmers' market held at his former ministry's Hope Gardens headquarters in St Andrew before heading off to King's House for the swearing-in ceremony which would see him reassigned to industry, investment and commerce.

"I go to the new ministry to learn, firstly from my colleague there who I'm taking over from (Karl Samuda) and technocrats in that ministry and to hopefully build on those achievements," Tufton said before paying tribute to his successor.

"I'm being succeeded by someone who is qualified and competent to take the baton and to build on what the team at the ministry has achieved. I want to thank the personnel at the ministry, the farmers and consumers for the support they have given the initiatives promoted during my four-year tenure. I have no doubt that my colleague, Minister Montague, will ensure that we continue to expand," Tufton told journalists after touring the grounds.

He noted that prices were generally higher than at the last farmers' markets and attributed this to heavy rainfall in recent weeks, which he said impacted the availability of some produce.

"That's expected when you have these occurrences. That's the nature of agriculture, but you still have enough in terms of variety and availability."