Board of Agro-Invest to drive increased investments in agriculture sector

The newly constituted board of the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC) has been tasked with driving increased investments to the agricultural sector. During a meeting with the board, at the agency’s Spanish Town Road offices in Kingston on December 9, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, said the process will need to begin immediately and that the sector must become market driven, research-based and sustainable. The 10-member board, which draws on members with significant experience in the private sector, was formed recently and also includes some members of the previous board. The Minister impressed upon them the need for having modernised agro parks and technological infusion as well as pre-packaged lands available for agricultural investors in a similar manner to the Jamaica Promotions Corporation’s (JAMPRO) Shovel Ready Investment Programme, which aims to identify both public and privately owned lands that are available for tourism development. An agency of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the AIC focuses on agricultural investment promotion and facilitation, project development and market development and seeks to activate, stimulate and undertake agricultural development for economic advancement and the well-being of Jamaicans. -30-