Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, JC Hutchinson, makes a point during his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on May 29. In the background is Member of Parliament for Eastern Hanover, Dave Brown.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, J C Hutchinson, says the Government is in the process of developing a crop loss and farm insurance programme.

Making his Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives today, Hutchinson noted that a concept document outlining the mechanism for the off-budget financing of the programme has been developed.

“Stakeholder consultation has commenced, and the second draft will be available soon,” he told members of the House.

Meanwhile, Hutchinson is urging farming communities to adopt climate-smart procedures to provide water for farms.

“We recognise the need for climate-smart agriculture, so identify areas where ponds can be dug and pond liners installed to harvest rainwater, or channel water from the roadways into ponds where it can be gravity-fed to farms,” he said.

Hutchinson has commissioned principals of schools in his North Western St Elizabeth constituency to enter a hydroponic competition utilising plastic bottles to grow cabbage, lettuce, scallion and thyme.

“The school with the most creative concept will be used for demonstration and the concept used to promote backyard gardening. The winning school will be rewarded,” he noted.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Govt_developing_crop-loss_and_farm_insurance_programme