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Nation urged to plant fruit trees, vegetables this Labour Day
Friday, May 23, 2008
Prime Minister Bruce Golding is urging Jamaicans to roll up their sleeves today, Labour Day, and actively participate in the nation's efforts to plant food crops to beat the emerging food crisis.
In his Labour Day message, Prime Minister Golding said food importation in large quantities will soon be a thing of the past, therefore, Jamaicans are today encouraged to plant vegetables, root crops and fruit trees to ensure food security.
"Food is an absolute necessity. We can import it or produce it; we can buy it or grow it ourselves. Nothing is more worthy of our effort on this Labour Day than ensuring that we are better able to feed ourselves. Let's devote ourselves to that task this Labour Day," he said.
In keeping with this year's theme for Labour Day, "Eat what we grow, grow what we eat", Prime Minister Golding said 200,000 packs of seeds have been distributed to students above Grade 7 islandwide. He said the national and parish Labour Day Committees have identified a number of community projects to establish school gardens to ensure that the island's schools can also become food production centres.
"Groups, such as the JAS branches and 4-H Clubs, will be prominently engaged," he added.
Labour Minister Pearnel Charles also encouraged Jamaicans to make a proactive decision "to feed ourselves".
"If we are to effectively feed ourselves as a nation in these challenging times, where we are faced with the threat of global despair from food shortage, agriculture should be one of our pillars for securing sustenance to our growing population," Charles said in a message to mark Labour Day.
"We must recognise that an investment in agriculture is an investment in our future," he said. "If we sow, ladies and gentlemen, then we may reap and enjoy the fruits of our labour. By the sweat of his brow, a man shall eat. Let us not stand and wait for Manna to fall from the sky. As a nation we must share the responsibility of planting today to protect our future."
Friday, May 23, 2008
Prime Minister Bruce Golding is urging Jamaicans to roll up their sleeves today, Labour Day, and actively participate in the nation's efforts to plant food crops to beat the emerging food crisis.
In his Labour Day message, Prime Minister Golding said food importation in large quantities will soon be a thing of the past, therefore, Jamaicans are today encouraged to plant vegetables, root crops and fruit trees to ensure food security.
"Food is an absolute necessity. We can import it or produce it; we can buy it or grow it ourselves. Nothing is more worthy of our effort on this Labour Day than ensuring that we are better able to feed ourselves. Let's devote ourselves to that task this Labour Day," he said.
In keeping with this year's theme for Labour Day, "Eat what we grow, grow what we eat", Prime Minister Golding said 200,000 packs of seeds have been distributed to students above Grade 7 islandwide. He said the national and parish Labour Day Committees have identified a number of community projects to establish school gardens to ensure that the island's schools can also become food production centres.
"Groups, such as the JAS branches and 4-H Clubs, will be prominently engaged," he added.
Labour Minister Pearnel Charles also encouraged Jamaicans to make a proactive decision "to feed ourselves".
"If we are to effectively feed ourselves as a nation in these challenging times, where we are faced with the threat of global despair from food shortage, agriculture should be one of our pillars for securing sustenance to our growing population," Charles said in a message to mark Labour Day.
"We must recognise that an investment in agriculture is an investment in our future," he said. "If we sow, ladies and gentlemen, then we may reap and enjoy the fruits of our labour. By the sweat of his brow, a man shall eat. Let us not stand and wait for Manna to fall from the sky. As a nation we must share the responsibility of planting today to protect our future."
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