PM pledges more investment in agriculture to boost food security, tackle inflation

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says his administration is ramping up its investment in the agriculture sector to improve food security and tackle inflation.

 

Speaking Wednesday at the commissioning of the Parnassus Irrigation System and the launch of the Parnassus Agropark in Clarendon, Dr. Holness said the government is shifting towards increased productivity in agriculture to reduce prices to consumers.

 

He said the government will be implementing several projects to revamp national irrigation systems as part of the strategy to expand the agriculture sector.

 

"So, yes, you the average voter listening to me who say, 'How this benefit me? This nuh guh only benefit the likkle farmer dem in Parnassus?' No, my friend. It is these kinds of investments that benefit you. The cost of living crisis that we face, a part of it, is an agriculture crisis. It is precisely because we have low productivity in agriculture, why we have a food price crisis. And until our voters make that connection to inform how they vote, they will not get good agricultural policies. What they will satisfy with are easy but destructive policies that say, well, we should put a tax on imported goods," he contended. 

 

Dr. Holness said Agriculture Minister Floyd Green has been mandated to fast-track implementation of the agriculture projects.