Agro-Tourism Farmers' Market staged in MoBay

Karrie Williams, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:The Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall was buzzing with activities on Wednesday during the first staging of the Montego Bay Agro-Tourism Farmers' Market Initiative, designed to garner new markets for local farmers and other entrepreneurs.

An array of booths, showcasing a wide variety of farm produce, art, and craft, and health products occupied the venue.

Venton Bucknor, parish agricultural manager for RADA, St James, said the event was staged to provide linkages between the agriculture and tourism sectors.

"There is a very strategic link between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture. The tourism sector, because of its nature, supports the agricultural sector in terms of fresh produce and also agro-processed goods that the hotels would purchase from some of our local producers to feed their guests. So it's really a strategic collaboration and one which we hope to seriously maintain," he said.

Farmers welcome initiative

Farmers, some of whom came from as far away as St Elizabeth, welcomed the initiative and expressed their desire to be able to tap into the guaranteed hotel market.

"This is my first farmers' market, and I wanted to experience what this was like, primarily because there is an opportunity to form linkages with the hotel sector. I am hoping to be able to sell off all my produce today and to form alliances with some hotels that will regularly purchase my vegetables, all of which I grow myself," said Lasmin Elliot, a farmer from St Elizabeth.

Bucknor said that there were plans in place to host the event on a monthly basis, though no venue had yet been decided. He said the partnership with the tourism sector would improve both the production and productivity levels of farmers.

"Marketing usually poses a severe challenge for farmers. Oftentimes, farmers suffer from a poor distribution situation, and having a farmers' market like this, not just an ordinary farmers' market, but one that is linked with the tourism industry, provides the farmers with an opportunity to market their produce.

"Once there is a sustainable marketing arrangement, then farmers will be stimulated to increase their production and productivity because when the farmers can dispose of their produce, then it will improve their earning capacity, and once they are able to earn, then they'll be able to provide the inputs to their farms," he said.