Rice could be grown very well in Jamaica on positive rainfall and climate conditions and it is possible to get two crops per season in a given year, according to the acclaimed African agricultural scientist Dr Monty Jones, reports http://www.jamaicaobserver.com. While rice and peas is a famous Jamaican dish, Jamaica remains dependent on importing our staple food rather than local cultivation.
Dr Monty Jones has been grappling (since the 1970s) with the challenge of producing new, tougher and more productive rice varieties, helping subsistence farmers grow themselves out of poverty and his continent further away from the threat of famine.The visit of Sierra Leonean Jones, executive director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), winner of the 2004.
World Food Prize with his New Rice for Africa (NERICA) project and was included by Time magazine in it's list of the worlds 'Most Influential' in 2007, comes at a time when the Government of Jamaica is experimenting with rice growing to help meet its objective of raising agricultural productivity and food security. The government has already enlisted the help of China and Japan (both co-funded the development of NERICA) both have agreed in principle to provide grant funding and technical assistance, among other international partners.
Various rice varieties are being tested by the Ministry of Agriculture at its research facility in Bodles, St Catherine (which is being refurbished to house the planned Centre of Excellence) with lands earmarked for cultivation in that parish and St Elizabeth, should it prove feasible.
Dr Monty Jones has been grappling (since the 1970s) with the challenge of producing new, tougher and more productive rice varieties, helping subsistence farmers grow themselves out of poverty and his continent further away from the threat of famine.The visit of Sierra Leonean Jones, executive director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), winner of the 2004.
World Food Prize with his New Rice for Africa (NERICA) project and was included by Time magazine in it's list of the worlds 'Most Influential' in 2007, comes at a time when the Government of Jamaica is experimenting with rice growing to help meet its objective of raising agricultural productivity and food security. The government has already enlisted the help of China and Japan (both co-funded the development of NERICA) both have agreed in principle to provide grant funding and technical assistance, among other international partners.
Various rice varieties are being tested by the Ministry of Agriculture at its research facility in Bodles, St Catherine (which is being refurbished to house the planned Centre of Excellence) with lands earmarked for cultivation in that parish and St Elizabeth, should it prove feasible.
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