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M
By MICAF Communications Office couraged local pro- Currently only 3,500 hectares are
inister of Industry, Com- ducers to expand pro- available. The Minister reported that some Minister Samuda thanked the Euro-
merce, Agriculture and Fish- duction to supply both 18,000 hectares of leased lands have pean Union for its contribution
eries, Karl Samuda, is encouraging the local and CARI- been returned by the Chinese to over the past 10 years
stakeholders in the sugar industry to COM markets. the Government of Jamaica through the Sugar Trans-
have a positive outlook on the sector Turning to the matter of and there were formation Programme. In
and to move forward with the confi- increased production now several addition, in the face of
dence that this industry will rise and productivity, opportunities the impact of climate
again. Minister Samuda for investors to change, he identified
Minister Samuda, who was speak- outlined a number get involved in the continued improve-
ing at the 80th annual conference of the of steps to increase use of these lands, ment in infrastruc-
Jamaica Association of Sugar Technol- efficiency in the field. not just for sugar but ture, irrigation,
ogists (JAST) November 2 in Ocho Rios, He said, for example, for diversification into agronomic practices as well
said there was an enormous reservoir of some 7,500 hectares of the cultivation of other as increased investments as
potential in the sugar cane industry. cane was required to make crops such as onion, he being essential to the fu-
The agriculture minister said that in production at said. ture viability of the indus-
comparison to the US$370 per tonne paid the try.
for raw sugar in the European market,
value-added sugar products could fetch
prices as high as US$2,000 per tonne for Minister of Industry, Com-
merce, Agriculture and
the commodity.
Fisheries, Karl Samuda
Against the background of the end of displays samples of locally
the special quota arrangement to the Euro- branded sugar at the Ja-
pean market for sugar from the African maica Association of Sugar
Caribbean and Pacific countries effective Monymusk
Technologists Conference held on No-
October 1, this year, Minister Samuda en- factory in Clarendon vember 2 in Ocho Rios.
viable.
INSIDE
Cane Farmers Association
profit jumps to $11.54 M ... page 5
Jamaicas domestic crop
production on the decline ... page 7
Congratulates
Dr. Michael Motta on being awarded Veterinarian of the Year!
Hi-Pro extends hearty congratulations to our very own Dr. Motta for being awarded
2016 Veterinarian of the Year by the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Motta is an expert in Cattle
Fertility and pioneer of Embryo Transfer Technology, an invaluable mentor to veterinary students and completely
dedicated to his vocation of helping and healing animals for 19 Years and counting.
opportunities
in tourism for
local Farmers
M inister without Portfolio in the Min-
istry of Industry, Commerce, Agricul-
ture and Fisheries, J.C. Hutchinson, says the
tourism sector continues to offer opportuni-
ties to local farmers.
Speaking at the Human Employment
and Resource Training (HEART) College of
Hospitality Services/Western Hospitality In-
stitute Trade Show at the Cardiff Hotel and
Spa, Runaway Bay, St. Ann, on November
16, Hutchinson said that a close examination
of the countrys high food-import bill reveals
that a large portion of what is imported is
destined for the tourism sector.
Based on a 2015 Demand Study, it is
The Agriculturalist
Jamaica 4-H Club National Leader of the year awardee, Carlene Gab-
bidon holds her plaque while (l-r) Dwain Moodie, parish manager, Man-
chester 4H Club; Sharon Thompson-Jordan, president, 4-H Club Leaders
Call 923-7471 agriculturalist@gmail.com Association and Natalee Salomon, club leader join the celebration.
NEWS
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 THE AGRICULTURALIST 5
T
Reporter - The Agriculturalist tions while we developed
new income streams. The enior lecturer in economics and entre-
he All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers initiatives realized for the preneurship at the College of Agricul-
Association (AIJCF) has recorded association a reduction in ture, Science and Education (CASE)
over 100% improvement in its financial the level of liabilities and Donovan "Panel" Hill, 54 died on
performance with net profit as of Septem- a cessation of gratuities Wednesday (December 6) after succumb-
ber 30, 2017, stood at $11.54 million, com- payable on contracts. ing to a massive heart attack in the Port
Nigel Myrie The secretary/manager
pared to net loss of $9.88 million during Antonio Hospital where he was admitted
Secretary/
the corresponding period of 2016. also explains that the early that day.
manager
The financial report of the AIJCF for AIJCF
changes coupled with the Donovan had an unrelenting ambi-
the period ending September 30, 2017, at- improvement in the fertil- tion to be successful and to support his
tributed the performance to a substantial izer and chemical advance family and help people. He was a brilliant
gross profit of $8.23 million from the sales programmes have repositioned the finan- scholar and businessman who will be
of fertilizer, chemicals and other agricul- cial outlook of the association as a going missed by his students and thousands of
tural supplies, management fee of $60 mil- concern. customers in the island, Robert Mon-
lion from the Sugar Industry Authority and The number of farmers supplying cane tague, Minister of National Security and a
$24.02 million in levy from cane farmers increased slightly from 3,123 in 2016 to former college mate at CASE.
which push the associations income to 3,178 55 farmers or 2% more than 2016 Donovan is one of the most hard- Donovan "Panel" hill
$94.34 million compared to $84.63 million but 25% less than 2015. working, dedicated and committed peo- December 6, 2017 - March 29, 1963
in 2016. The All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers' ple I have known. He was a devoted
Secretary/manager at AIJCF, Nigel Association was founded in 1941 to pro- family man who was always looking out Four children, five siblings, and his
Myrie notes that the operating expenses mote foster and encourage the growing of for people, Richard Campbell, his long- parents survive him.
were contained at $90.40 million or $6.24 cane by farmers and the orderly and proper time friend and colleague at CASE re- A service of thanksgiving will be
million below corresponding period. Myrie delivery thereof to factories and extension called. held at the TP Lecky Theater, CASE,
says, the Association had to make some and welfare of cane farmers as an island in- Hill who also operated a computer Passley Garden, Portland on January 21,
investment in agriculture
A mbassador Plenipotentiary for Eco-
nomic Affairs, Dr. Nigel Clarke, is
calling for increased investment in agri-
culture, as there is great demand that is not
being satisfied and which the nation has
the ability to supply.
If we focus more on growing our
own produce, we would reduce the need to
import and satisfy the demands of our mar-
kets, which also results in an increase in
our gross domestic product (GDP), he ar-
gued.
He was speaking at the Jamaica Em-
ployers Federations (JEF) third annual
CEO Breakfast held on Tuesday (Novem-
ber 7) at The Knutsford Court Hotel in Dr. Nigel Clarke, Ambassador
New Kingston. Plenipotentiary for Economic Affairs
Dr. Clarke said that while there may
be concerns about the impacts of climate He said the data show that whenever
change and natural disasters, new tech- agriculture does well, Jamaica does well
nologies are available to protect crops. and when agriculture suffers, as was the
Its 2017, and with the application of case in the last quarter Jamaica suffers.
technology and proper infrastructure, So we need to have a strategic approach to
theres no need to be so much at the mercy agriculture and double up our efforts in
of droughts and floods as we are today. that area.
What we need to do, and what we will be We tend to underestimate how im-
certainly advocating for, is an acceleration portant agriculture is to Jamaica. Were
of investments in water infrastructure, stor- very much still an agricultural society
age systems, distribution systems and irri- where agriculture plays a fundamental role
gation, because the data suggest that in the daily lives of Jamaicans, and if we
wherever agriculture goes, thats where Ja- are to ensure that we can pick up and sus-
maica goes, he noted. tain going forward, were going to have to
Dr. Clarke said that agriculture has pay serious attention to agriculture, he
proven to be influential to the Jamaican noted further.
market and earnings, and is a key compo- Meanwhile, Dr. Clarke said the Ja-
nent in the performance of the nation in maica economy is moving in the right di-
each quarter. rection.
6 THE AGRICULTURALIST DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
NEWS
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 THE AGRICULTURALIST 7
J
Editor-The Agriculturalist porting above normal rainfall since the be-
ginning of 2017, which resulted in
amaicas overall domestic crop produc- significant flooding in some of the leading
tion output has been lackluster this year producing communities. Persistent rain is
and could face more poor performance in also forecasted for the final quarter of the
2018, due to unstable weather conditions year, which would affect production out-
as well as significant constraints affecting put negatively.
production. The Ministry also identified the fol-
According to data compiled by the lowing as among the major constraints to
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agricul- production during the quarters under re-
ture & Fisheries, the first three-quarters of viewed: High incidences of losses to prae-
2017 recorded declines of 4.6%, 11.0% dial larceny; high cost of labour and tractor
and 2.8% in the respective periods. services; flooding; high cost of seedlings
The first quarter production amounted and other planting materials; high cost of
to 168,844.7 t, a marginal decline of 4.6% inputs, fertilizers and chemicals; lack of ir-
when compared to the output in the com- sponding period of 2016, when some rienced during the year, damaging estab- rigation and water storage facilities; lack
parable quarter of 2016 when approxi- 177,825.1 t had been reaped. lished crops in some of the major produc- of proper storage and drying facilities for
mately 176,969.6 t was reaped. The 3rd quarter produced 152157.7 t, ing areas, further resulting in severe losses seeds and other planting materials and lack
The declining trends continue in the a declined of 2.8% when compared with to farmers across the island, as cash crops of proper access to farms, and highly dete-
2nd quarter with 157,745.7 t, decreasing 15,6611.9 t were produced in 2016. were washed out and fields were flooded riorated farm roads.
Prolong merger
The announcement was
made by Conley Salmon, Presi-
of JACRA affects
dent Jamaica Operations, Ja-
maica Broilers Group at the Best
coffee farmers
C
Dressed Chicken Farmers
Awards luncheon held on Mon-
day, December 4 at the Terra
offee farmers said the prolonged Nova Hotel.
delay in completing the merger of In commending members
the coconut, coffee and cocoa boards of the poultry industry for their
and the ministrys export division into professionalism and hard work,
the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Mr. Salmon said the time had
Regulatory Authority (JACRA) is nega- come for the wider public to bet-
tively affecting production. ter understand the industrys im-
Some five years ago the government pact on employment provided
enacted JACRA, but after missing sev- by the 60-thousand contract
eral implementations and startup dates, farmers, over 2-thousand large
Donald Salmon president Jamaica Cof- ones, as well as an increasing
fee Growers Association (JCGA) said the group of backyard growers. Christopher levy (right), President of CEo of Jamaica Broilers Group gets ready to pres-
regulations keep changing, and it is very We are preparing a book- ent the Best Dressed Chicken trophy to Alexander Grant (left) as top Producer with less
worrying to farmers. let which will highlight the poul- than 96,000 birds.
The implementation process is tak- try industrys contribution to
nation building, including the with the respective govern- about 50 per cent of the revenue retail price of between $90 and
ing too long. More dialogue is needed. ments, but must maintain an ef- from non-traditional agricultural $100 per pound for imported
Mass meetings of all the farmers are fact that farmers pay taxes
amounting to about fective lobby with the nations products in Jamaica. He said necks and backs, effectively out-
needed to keep the farmers updated fully. leaders to ensure we operate free over the past five years the doing low quality imports.
$46 billion a year, which help to
The process is too segmented, Salmon of unfair competition from layer and broiler industries, These industrious farmers
maintain such social amenities
charged. dumped, subsidised chicken, combined, have grown by close feed themselves and neighbours
as roads and schools, he said.
Salmon explained that coffee farm- the JBG executive said. to 25 per cent - a remarkable on a superior, home-grown
According to Mr. Salmon
ers we facing various challenge includ- Many people have no idea achievement, of which we can product, while saving foreign
local broiler farmers produce be-
ing the lack of technical and marketing tween 2.5 million and 3 million about the size of our industry be proud. This also speaks to the exchange. So, we need to en-
support from the Coffee Industry Board kilos of chicken meat every which involves a variety of skill close co-operation between the courage them. In fact, the ma-
and more than 50% drop in the price week. This is big business, but sets, such as the farmers, vets, government and the industries, jority of backyard farmers are
dealers paid for coffee beans. it is vulnerable to an ever pres- truck drivers, retailers, whole- aimed at feeding our nation. women, who support their fam-
During the 2016/17 crop we re- ent threat from the dumping of salers and food vendors, Mr. Mr. Salmon also told his ilies with that income. When
ceived $10,000 for each box of coffee cheap imports. This is the rea- Salmon said. audience that the importation of they sell meat from 100 chick-
delivered, however for the crop year to son we have to keep the public According to the JBG exec- chicken necks and backs had de- ens at retail value, they earn
2017/18 the price dipped to $4,000. This educated as to the value of the utive, the local poultry industry clined drastically in recent about six weeks minimum
low price is unsustainable and is driving industry and how it contributes is expected to bring in approxi- times, as backyard farmers were wage. And, thats a success story
farmers into bankruptcy, Salmon to communities. We have had mately J$54 billion in retail able to produce more whole more people need to hear
warned. good partnerships over the years sales in 2017, which represents chickens at the same cost as the about, Mr. Salmon said.
8 THE AGRICULTURALIST DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
Cleanup JACRA act, before implementation
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 THE AGRICULTURALIST 9
I
Parliament.
However, a preliminary reading of the
Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regu- t seems crazy that the region is importing production. The re-
latory Authority Act 2016, indicates that sugar from places like Colombia or Mex- gional industry in
the project in the main is good for the agri- By omer thomas ico which we can supply at home or right 2017 produced
cultural sector, save that of a few offensive International Agricultural next door, Sugar Association of the 417,000 tonnes of
sections which if, was afforded the neces- Development Consultant Caribbean (SAC) chairman, R. Karl James sugar, far more than
sary transparency, could be avoided. Phytovivaservices@yahoo.com responded said. estimated demand of
It is the opinion of a broad cross-sec- He was speaking at the International 320,000 tonnes in the
tion of farmers, agribusiness and intellec- are conflicting with other laws dealing with Sugar Organisation (ISO) in London last region.
good order and practices in the local busi- week at the annual conference on the global It seems crazy
tual leadership that the regulations to
ness environment. sugar sector. that the region is im-
support the Law is being done without con-
3. There are provisions of the Act that James further noted, Caribbean sugar porting sugar from
sultation or stakeholder participation. R. Karl James places like Colombia
are conflicting with Jamaican law which producers across the region are successfully
This should not be allowed in a soci- Chairman, Sugar or Mexico which we
ratified the Uruguay round of the World moving up the value chain to produce sugars
ety that prides itself on being compliant Association of can supply at home or
Trade Organization (WTO). which can be used directly by consumers and
with the best practices of most contempo- manufacturers. White sugar suitable for 98% the Caribbean right next door.
rary international conventions. 4. The Act which appears to be an
of all uses can now be produced within the Sugar can be a
The Law needs to be amended, even amalgamation of several commodity board tremendous force for good helping manu-
region. National strategies are in place for
before it gets the chance of being applied, Acts of the 1950s did not embrace the en- facturers to supporting the local economy
all of the key sugar industries.
for the following reasons: vironmental changes which make aspects We are now actively speaking with our and local jobs by sourcing their raw materi-
1. There are blatant constitutional con- of those acts obsolete; Is it an amalgama- local manufacturers who buy their sugar in- als locally; helping countries cut down on
flicts contained within the provisions of the tion of four outdated Laws? ternationally to understand and meet their their dollar import bills; and generating new
Act. 5. The Act seems to have ignored the supply requirements through regional sugar cheap clean energy for businesses and local
2. There are provisions of the Act that realities of the standardization infrastruc- people.
NotICE
StAKEholDERS CoNFERENCE
DAIRY FARMERS AND MILK PROCESSORS
PRoDUCt tAlK:
Charles Douglas, chairman of Jamaica 4h Club, shares a light moment with Ale-
cia Fulton, national home economics coordinator (c) and Shanique Allen, director
of finance and accounts during a farmers market held recently at the Clubs head
offices, Kingston 6.
The Agriculturalist
Prime Minister's Youth Award: Book your advert in..
Diandra Rowe, 26 (left) receives the Prime Minister's Youth Award in the cate-
gory of agriculture and agro-processing from Prime Minister Andrew holness.
Seventy-three other young people who have made outstanding contributions in
various areas were presented with the Prime Minister's Youth Awards for Excel-
lence, during a ceremony held last Wednesday on the lawns of the office of the
Prime Minister in Kingston. At the annual Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and
oUR PRoDUCtS
Garden Soil
Germination Medium
Compost
Fortified organic Matter
organic Fertilizer
Knockalva Enterprises limited, trading as EASI-GRo, was founded in April 2014 to supply the needs
of the emerging sustainable agriculture market by providing the best organicbased growing products,
as well as the knowledge needed to economically implement sustainable, organic growing practices.
PhotoS
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 THE AGRICULTURALIST 13
HEAD OFFICE
191 Old Hope Road
Kingston 6
Tel: 977-4022/6727 or 618-0172
Fax: 927-2696
Website: www.nicjamaica.com
E-mail: nic@cwjamaica.com
@nicltdjamaica @NICJamaica
T
offee prices could be ready to re-
cover as the market negotiates a pro-
he European Union together with the Bill duction deficit but the gains may
and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged struggle to last long, according to Sucden
on Tuesday (12 December) more than 500 Financial.
million over the next three years for research The commodities broker pegged
and innovation in agriculture.
global coffee production for the current
The EU, which is the largest donor for
2017-18 crop year at 154.4m bags, down
development aid, and the Bill and Melinda
from 156.3m bags last year, while con-
Gates Foundation, which is the larger phi-
sumption is expected to increase to 158m
lanthropist organisation in this field, will
work together on a joint initiative to drive bags.
research and technical and organisational The resulting deficit of 3.6m bags
innovations across agricultural and food could lend support to coffee prices,
systems in developing countries. which have been under consistent down-
Both sides consider that more science France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) and US entrepreneur and philantropist ward pressure for the last 12 months.
and innovation is required to address Bill Gates talk on the boat which carries heads of state to the One Planet Summit Meanwhile, the net short in New
some of the most pressing challenges at La Seine Musicale venue on the Ile Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, York-traded arabica coffee futures and
posed by climate change. This joint initia- France, 12 December 2017. [Pool/EPA/EFE] options is approaching record highs,
tive will build on the outcomes of the Paris governments agree to end their heavy re- make a huge difference, particularly because which could leave the market vulnerable
Agreement and the recent COP23 held in liance on fossil fuels and limit further global of climate change. to a rapid spike, Sucden said, flagging the
Bonn on the role of agriculture in the climate warming. EU Commissioner for International Co- potential for a weakening dollar to sup-
change agenda. Innovations in agriculture may imply operation and Development Neven Mimica port price gains too.
Among other philanthropists, Bill Gates the use of GMOs. Bill Gates is known for his said that the impact of climate change was es- Greenback weakness against the
is one of the stars at the One Planet Summit support for genetic engineering. In an inter- pecially important for less developed coun- likes of the real boosts the value in dollar
hosted by French President Emmanuel view with the Wall Street Journal last year, tries, where extreme weather events can terms of assets in which, in this case,
F
of a large Brazil crop to cap prices on the
(CNN) CropLife International, a trade association upside".
ruits and vegetables are an essential part representing the manufacturers of pesticides. Output in the worlds largest pro-
of a healthy pregnancy diet, providing vi- Collins was not involved in the study. ducer, Brazil, is slightly lower in 2017-
tamins and fiber. Yet some might also come "The JAMA research publication does 18 on 50.6m bags, due to the biennial
with pesticide residues. not show a direct link between pesticide
cycle of Brazilian production.
Among women undergoing infertility residue intake and pregnancy outcome, as the
ld need to be replenished, indicating that
treatment in the United States, consuming authors state. This is a hypothesis generating
"shipments will be low for the remainder
more fruits and vegetables with high amounts study, and as the authors recommend, we
agree that before a definitive outcome can be
of 2017", Sucden said.
of pesticide residue was associated with a
established the issues require further study," This supply scenario could be com-
lower chance of pregnancy and a higher risk
she said in an emailed statement. plicated by the onset of La Nina, which is
of pregnancy loss, according to a study pub-
lished in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine How harmful are pesticide residues? underway according to official US mete-
on Monday. School of Public Health and first author of The study involved 325 women between orologists, who give it a 65-75% chance
Pesticides are pest-killing substances the study. 18 and 45 who were undergoing infertility of continuing through the winter.
drop in Brazilian
S
sure to pesticides can be tied to certain acute especially in susceptible populations such as questionnaire and had their height, weight
and chronic human health concerns. pregnant women and their fetus, and on chil- and overall health measured, while the re-
"Most Americans are exposed to pesti- dren," she said. "Our study provides evidence searchers accounted for confounding factors
cides daily by consuming conventionally that this concern is not unwarranted." that could influence the study results, includ- ugar futures staged a - temporary - re-
grown fruits and vegetables," said Dr. Yu- Yet the findings should be digested with cau- ing their intake of supplements and residen- vival after data showed output in
Han Chiu, a research fellow in the depart- tion, said Janet Collins, executive vice pres- tial history. Brazils Centre South region tailing off
faster than had been thought, hampered
A
euroefe.es | translated by Sam Morgan Unpublished field trials by pesticide ence of pesticides in food. duced 734,000 tonnes of the sweetener in
PARMA , ITALIAN: manufacturers show their products cause se- In total, 3,265 samples were tainted with the second half of November a slump
European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) rious harm to honeybees at high levels, lead- over-the-limit levels of pesticide, mostly of 35% on volumes in the same period
report has warned that 6.5% of food im- ing to calls from senior scientists for the from imports, and about 1,253 cases were last year.
ports from third countries contain pesticide companies to end the secrecy which cloaks contaminated by pesticides that are not ap-
The extent of the decline reflected
residue that exceeds the EUs maximum per- much of their research. proved in the EU.
largely a 22% drop in the volume of cane
mitted level. EURACTIV Spain reports. Of nearly 83,000 food samples The Spanish region of Aragn is set to
crushed, to 15.2m tonnes, thanks to wet
The EFSA, based in the northern Italian analysed, 97% complied with the rules, ei- request European funding from the Horizon
ther by being completely pesticide free (53% 2020 programme to combat environmental weather setbacks to harvesting.
city of Parma, said that its most recent data,
of the samples achieved this) or by being pollution caused by a now-banned pesticide. The fall in the milling [volume] is
collected in 2014, shows a slight increase
from 2013, when 5.7% of food was contam- within the legal limits. EURACTIV Spain reports. due to rains, which made harvesting in
inated. EFSA pesticide unit Head Jos Tarazona The European agency said that it is un- important sugarcane areas difficult, said
In terms of food produced by the 28 explained that the EUs results from 2014 likely that the levels of pesticide it detected Antonio de Padua Rodrigues, the Unica
member states, as well as Iceland and Nor- are in line with what was recorded the year would pose a threat to peoples health in the technical director, adding that onset of
way, just 1.6% contained limit-exceeding before, meaning that the EU is continuing the short or long term. seasonal closures by more mills had also
pesticide residue, up from 1.4% in 2013. protect consumers by controlling the pres- undermined output.
16 THE AGRICULTURALIST DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
Eliminating enemies
technology: the Future of Agriculture
ductivity, and making sustainabil- result: increased efficiency with a
ity a priority. Drones are part of the reduction of in the amount of
solution, along with closer collabo- chemicals penetrating into ground-
T
ration between governments, tech- water. In fact, experts estimate that
nology leaders, and industry. aerial spraying can be completed By Anthony King
up to five times faster with drones
he Food and Agriculture Or-
Six options for than with traditional machinery.
ganization of the United Na-
Agricultural Drones 4. Crop monitoring: Vast
tions estimates that 2040% of
Drone technology will give fields and low efficiency in crop
global crop yields are lost each
the agriculture industry a high- monitoring together create farm-
year to pests and diseases, despite
technology makeover, with plan- ings largest obstacle. Monitoring
the application of around two-mil-
ning and strategy based on challenges are exacerbated by in-
lion tonnes of pesticide.
real-time data gathering and pro- creasingly unpredictable weather
Intelligent devices, such as
cessing. PwC estimates the market conditions, which drive risk and
robots and drones, could allow
for drone-powered solutions in field maintenance costs. Previ-
farmers to slash agrichemical use
agriculture at $32.4 billion. Fol- ously, satellite imagery offered the
by spotting crop enemies earlier to
lowing are six ways aerial and most advanced form of monitoring.
allow precise chemical applica-
ground-based drones will be used But there were drawbacks. Images
had to be ordered in advance, could tion or pest removal, for example.
throughout the crop cycle:
be taken only once a day, and were The market is demanding
1. Soil and field analysis:
imprecise. Further, services were foods with less herbicide and pes-
Drones can be instrumental at the
extremely costly and the images ticide, and with greater quality,
start of the crop cycle. They pro-
quality typically suffered on certain says Red Whittaker, a robotics en-
duce precise 3-D maps for early
days. Today, time-series animations gineer at Carnegie Mellon who
soil analysis, useful in planning
designed and patented an auto-
Drones with precision sprayers (insert) apply agrochemicals
seed planting patterns. After plant- can show the precise development
mated guidance system for trac-
only where they are needed. Image: Crop Angel Ltd
ing, drone-driven soil analysis pro- of a crop and reveal production in-
efficiencies, enabling better crop tors in 1997. That challenge can lished. Scientists from Carnegie problems with irrigation. The
vides data for irrigation and
management. be met by robots. Mellon have begun to test the the- company processes drone data
nitrogen-level management.
5. Irrigation: Drones with hy- We predict drones, mounted ory in sorghum (Sorghum bi- from crop fields in more than 50
2. Planting: Startups have
perspectral, multispectral, or ther- with RGB or multispectral cam- color), a staple in many parts of countries. It is now using machine
created drone-planting systems that
mal sensors can identify which eras, will take off every morning Africa and a potential biofuel crop learning to train its systems to dif-
achieve an uptake rate of 75 per-
parts of a field are dry or need im- before the farmer gets up, and in the United States. ferentiate between crops and
cent and decrease planting costs by
85 percent. These systems shoot provements. Additionally, once the identify where within the field Agribotix, an agriculture weeds, and hopes to have this ca-
pods with seeds and plant nutrients crop is growing, drones allow the there is a pest or a problem, says data-analysis company in Boul- pability ready for the 2017 grow-
into the soil, providing the plant all calculation of the vegetation index, Green. As well as visible light, der, Colorado, supplies drones ing season. We will be able to
the nutrients necessary to sustain which describes the relative density these cameras would be able to and software that use near-in- ping growers with an alert saying
life. and health of the crop, and show collect data from the invisible frared images to map patches of you have weeds growing in your
3. Crop spraying: Distance- the heat signature, the amount of parts of the electromagnetic spec- unhealthy vegetation in large field, here and here, says crop
measuring equipmentultrasonic energy or heat the crop emits. trum that could allow farmers to fields. scientist Jason Barton, an execu-
echoing and lasers such as those 6. health assessment: Its es- pinpoint a fungal disease, for ex- Images can also reveal po- tive at Agribotix.
used in the light-detection and sential to assess crop health and ample, before it becomes estab- tential causes, such as pests or
18 THE AGRICULTURALIST DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
In case you
missed it
Over 300 individuals from all across Jamaica converged at the Jamaica
Conference Centre for the 2017 Hi-Pro Dealer Awards to celebrate the
achievements of high-performing dealers.
RECIPES
traditional Christmas
All eyes on
orange rind, orange juice and or- squeeze juice through a strainer
ange extract. Mash the bananas Blend flour, mixed spice
FHIA banana:
with a fork. (A food processor (raisins etc) ,salt, and nutmeg.
will tend to liquefy the bananas Combine this mixture with the
and this will change the texture grated potatoes and mix well
of the cake.) Alternately stir the Add sugar, fruits and coconut
bananas and the flour mixture milk. Mix well.
into the creamed mixture. Stir in Grease pan, pour in batter, bake
Technical staff of The Banana Board display a
bunch of the new FHIA 25 variety which is known
the floured fruit and nuts. at 350 degrees F for 40-60 min- for its many hands. Sharing lens time are (l-r) Al-
Turn into the prepared pans utes or until done fred Everett - Extension Officer; Wayne Peart - In-
and bake for 2 hours and 15 min- novation and Technology Transfer Manager; Oral
utes, or until a skewer inserted Lewis - Coordinator of Extension Services and
into the middle of each cake Winford Madden - Extension Officer. Also pic-
comes out clean. Cool in the tured is Nicole West-Hayles - Communications
pans for 20 minutes, then turn Specialist on The Banana Board Grant Contract
out onto racks. for Technical Services, funded by The European
Union. Developed in Honduras by the Honduran
Yields about 5 pounds of cake. Foundation for Agricultural Research (Fundacion
agriculturalist@gmail.com
utes, oozes less stain, easier to peel and leaves
no discolouration in the pot.
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24 THE AGRICULTURALIST DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM