JAS call for rural development
Published:Tuesday | December 23, 2008 | 8:25 AM
The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) is appealing to the government to invest in the development of rural infrastructure, in particular, farm roads.
The suggestion is being made against the background of Friday’s fatal accident in which a market truck plunged into a ravine in the Rio Grande Valley in Portland.
The JAS says the accident brings into focus the inadequate rural infrastructure and the poor rural roads that farmers have to traverse to and from the markets to trade their goods.
He is requesting that the government float a US$500 rural development bond to be used exclusively for maintenance of rural and farm roads.
Eight of the 14 persons who perished in the accident were members of the Milbank JAS branch.
Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton is slated to visit the farming community of Millbank today.