Two Jamaican farmers have been acknowledged as CARICOM’s Farmer of the 12 months and Younger Farmer of the 12 months by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) throughout the Week of Agriculture 2023, held in The Bahamas.
The awards have been introduced throughout the inaugural ceremony of Caribbean agriculture’s most necessary occasion, which was attended by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Edward Davis; ministers of agriculture from the nations that make up the Caribbean Group (CARICOM); the Director Basic of IICA, Manuel Otero; and the heads of regional and worldwide organizations, and representatives of academia, the personal sector, and NGOs.
IICA sponsored the Farmer of the 12 months Award – which included a money prize -and Director Basic Manuel Otero was readily available to current Peter McConnell of Commerce Winds Citrus Restricted (TWCL) the honors. McConnell was awarded for his profitable Jamaican agricultural enterprise which makes a speciality of citrus, pineapple, sugar cane manufacturing and a state-of-the-art dairy farm. TWCL began with the processing Tru-Juice and Contemporary juice-based manufacturers, and in 2020 diversified into the dairy trade with the introduction of TruSHAKE, Tru-Milk, Tru-Moo, and Dairy Farmers milk-based manufacturers.
The Youth Farmer of the yr 2023 award went to Diandre Rowe, Managing Director at Abbey Backyard Farm situated in Kingsland Manchester, a third-generation farmer who has been uncovered to farming her whole life, and, who determined to step away from a profitable company tenure to imagine duty and management over her household’s greenhouse farm. Abbey Backyard Farm produces a variety of herbs and vegetable crops for the native market.
Talking after the award ceremony, Floyd Inexperienced, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining of Jamaica, said that, “the clear sweep by Jamaica on the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, with our farmers profitable each the Youth Farmer of the 12 months and Farmer of the 12 months awards, exemplifies the extraordinary potential and dedication of Jamaica’s agricultural sector. Diandra Rowe, Managing Director of Abbey Backyard Farm, and Peter McConnell of Commerce Winds Citrus Ltd haven’t solely made Jamaica proud however have set an inspiring benchmark for the complete Caribbean.”
Inexperienced added: “This historic achievement showcases not solely the resilience and innovation of our farming neighborhood but additionally underscores Jamaica’s main function in shaping the way forward for agriculture throughout the Caribbean. These awards usually are not simply accolades; they’re a testomony to the dedication of our farmers, the expansion of our agricultural trade, and the intense prospects that lie forward. Jamaica’s agriculture is not only about producing meals; it’s about nurturing the goals of our youth, sustaining our surroundings, and driving financial prosperity for our nation.”
IICA’s Director Basic, Manuel Otero, commented on the award ceremony and expressed his delight that exemplary farmers are being acknowledged on the highest stage in CARICOM, and indicated that “IICA is proud to help this prestigious award. We congratulate Peter McConnell and Diandra Rowe for incomes these achievements, and acknowledge that these mannequin farmers signify a whole neighborhood of agriculturalists that IICA honors each day. IICA honors all of our farmers, who’re wonderful stewards of the environment and demanding to our livelihood and vitamin. ”
Otero added that “IICA is a founding member of the CWA, and we pledge our continued help to the CARICOM Secretariat and Member States to make sure that this premier agricultural occasion on the regional calendar continues to develop and excel yr after yr.”
