Jamaica’s domestic crop production on the decline
 
Jamaica’s overall domestic crop production output has been lackluster this year and could face more poor performance in 2018, due to unstable weather conditions as well as significant constraints affecting production.
 
According to the Comparatives Estimates of Domestic Crop Production and Area Reaped by Crop as compiled by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries, the first three-quarters of 2017 recorded declines of 4.6%, 11.0% and 2.8% in the respective periods.
 
The first quarter production amounted to 168,844.7 t, a marginal decline of 4.6% when compared to the output in the comparable quarter of 2016 when approximately 176,969.6 t was reaped.
 
The declining trends continue in the 2nd quarter with 157,745.7 t, decreasing by 11.0 % when compared to the corresponding period of 2016, when some 177,825.1 t had been reaped.
 
The 3rd quarter produced 152157.7 t, a declined of 2.8% when compared with 15,6611.9 t were produced in 2016.
 
The Ministry observed that production had been affected by the heavy rains experienced during the year, “damaging established crops in some of the major producing areas, further resulting in severe losses to farmers across the island, as cash crops were washed out and fields were flooded during the periods of excessive rainfall.”
 
The Jamaica Metrological Office is reporting above normal rainfall since the beginning of 2017, which resulted in significant flooding in some of the leading producing communities. Persistent rain is also forecasted for the final quarter of the year, which would affect production output negatively. 
 
The Ministry also identified the following as among the major constraints to production during the quarters under reviewed: High incidences of losses to praedial larceny; high cost of labour and tractor services; flooding; high cost of seedlings and other planting materials; high cost of inputs, fertilizers and chemicals; lack of irrigation and water storage facilities; lack of proper storage and drying facilities for seeds and other planting materials and lack of proper access to farms, and highly deteriorated farm roads.
                                                                         

Skill One

Cane Farmers Association profit jumps to $11.54 million
 
The All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association (AIJCF) has recorded over 100% improvement in its financial performance with net profit as of September 30, 2017, stood at $11.54 million, compared to net loss of $9.88 million during the corresponding period of 2016.
 
The financial report of the AIJCF for the period ending September 30, 2017, attributed the performance to a substantial gross profit of $8.23 million from the sales of fertilizer, chemicals and other agricultural supplies, management fee of $60 million from the Sugar Industry Authority and $24.02 million in levy from cane farmers which push the association’s income to $94.34 million compared to $84.63 million in 2016.
 
Secretary/manager at AIJCF, Nigel Myrie notes that the operating expenses were contained at $90.40 million or $6.24 million below corresponding period. Myrie says, “the Association had to make some major fiscal and structural adjustments to contain the cost of operations while we developed new income streams. The initiatives realized for the association a reduction in the level of liabilities and a cessation of gratuities payable on contracts.”
 
The secretary/manager also explains that the changes coupled with the improvement in the fertilizer and chemical advance programmes have repositioned the financial outlook of the association as a going concern.
 
The number of farmers supplying cane increased slightly from 3,123 in 2016 to 3,178 – 55 farmers or 2% more than 2016 but 25% less than 2015.
 
The All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers' Association was founded in 1941 to promote foster and encourage the growing of cane by farmers and the orderly and proper delivery thereof to factories and extension and welfare of cane farmers as an island industry.
                                                               

Skill Two

        CASE lecturer
        Donovan Hill died

March 29, 1963-Dec 6, 2017  
 
Senior lecturer in economics and entrepreneurship at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) Donovan "Panel" Hill, 54 died on Wednesday (December 6) after succumbing to a massive heart attack in the Port Antonio Hospital where he was admitted early that day.
 
“Donovan had an unrelenting ambition to be successful and to support his family and help people generally.
He was a brilliant scholar and businessman who will be missed by his students and thousands of customers in the island,” Robert Montague, Minister of National Security and a former college mate at CASE.
 
Hill who also operated a computer technology school, a juice bar and a restaurant has been a lecturer at CASE for the past twenty years. “Donovan is one of the most hardworking, dedicated and committed people I have known. He was a devoted family man who was always looking out for people,” Richard Campbell, his longtime friend and colleague at CASE recalled.
 
Four children, five siblings, and his parents survive him.
 
A service of thanksgiving service will be held at the TP Lecky Theater, CASE, Passley Garden, Portland on January 21, 2018. Interment will follow in Ensfield at the family plot.

Skill Three

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