Cayman to study J'can agri sector
Published:Saturday | August 6, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Keisha Hill, Gleaner Writer
MAY PEN, Clarendon:
Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, the lands and agriculture minister in the Cayman Islands, has welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the agricultural sector in Jamaica. O'Connor-Connolly, who is also Deputy Premier, headed a delegation to attend the recent Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show held in May Pen, Clarendon last weekend. She says the knowledge garnered from the exposure will assist her government in developing the agricultural sector of her country's economy.
Based on the land resources available, the Cayman Islands cannot produce enough goods to support the population of little over 50,000 persons. About 90 per cent of their food and consumer goods are imported. "If we are going to continue to diversify and improve our economies in this economic meltdown then we must invest in our people," stated O'Connor-Connolly. " There is no better method than through agriculture. So it was with great pleasure that I listened to the new Minister of Agriculture make such an eloquent speech that agriculture is in demand here in Jamaica and the innovative ways, including greenhouse farming and agro-processing methods, used here."
Dynamic, changing marketplace
She advocates that with the advances in technology comes the evolvement of a dynamic and changing marketplace and for Cayman to successfully compete in the global market it has to efficiently produce quality products (goods and services) at international standards.
The economy of the Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea, is mainly fuelled by the tourism sector and by the financial services sector, together representing 70 to 80 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). However, O'Connor-Connolly noted Jamaica has led the Caribbean and the world with fine standards in education and other areas including agriculture and she will be using this information to resuscitate the dying industry in her homeland.
"We commend the importation of bananas to the Cayman Islands and the way you have been moving forward with your greenhouse technology. This we can take home to my own country and in short order share this wonderful opportunity," O'Connor-Connolly said.
The Cayman Islands have few natural fresh water resources. Desalination of sea water is used to solve this. Despite those challenges, the Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world. The Cayman Islands also produces gourmet sea salt.
O'Connor-Connolly and her delegation were guests of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Jamaica Agricultural Society for the Denbigh show.