Farmers to benefit from year-round training at Denbigh showground

The Government plans to transform the Denbigh Agricultural Showground in Clarendon into a year-round training and activity centre, expanding its role beyond the annual Denbigh Agricultural Show.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green made the announcement at the Jamaica Agricultural Society’s (JAS’s) 128th Annual General Meeting, held at the venue on Wednesday.
The initiative forms part of a broader redevelopment plan that includes an architectural redesign aimed at positioning Denbigh as a permanent hub for agricultural training, innovation and farmer support.
Green said the Government intends to maximise the value of the facility by ensuring it serves farmers throughout the year.
“This Denbigh Showground should be a centrepiece, not just when we keep Denbigh [Agricultural Show], but all year round. People should be able to come here, get their training, and should be able to see things happening here that serve our farmers,” he said.
“It doesn’t make sense we have the assets and we’re not using them to help the farmers.”
The minister said detailed cost assessments would be undertaken as the Government seeks funding for what he described as one of the ministry’s flagship projects during the current term.
“We have to utilise Denbigh better, and you know what is important, when people pass and see nothing happening, they start thinking of other ways to use Denbigh and we don’t want those ideas. Denbigh must serve farmers all the way ... and for generations to come. So we have to do some work on Denbigh,” Green said.
He also praised the JAS, noting that the organisation had regained momentum under its current leadership after facing challenges in recent years.
“The JAS, like any organisation, has gone through ebbs and flows. It has gone through highs and lows and, to be honest, there was a time that I was very concerned about the future of the JAS. I can say categorically that, under the leadership of President [Owen] Dobson, with CEO [Derron] Grant and the members of the team, the JAS is moving from strength to strength,” he said.
Green argued that a strong JAS remains critical to the development of the agricultural sector, and said continued collaboration between the ministry and the organisation would help farmers access support services more easily.
Highlighting government support for the society, he announced that the JAS’s Hanover parish office has been fully rehabilitated with ministry funding. The ministry also provided the organisation with a new tractor last year, assisted with repairs to another in Westmoreland, and supplied three generators to strengthen disaster-response capabilities.
“We plan to do more,” the minister said.
He added that the government and the JAS are accelerating the rollout of farm stores across the island. Rehabilitation work has already been completed at the Kingston facility, while sites in Trelawny, Manchester and Westmoreland are also being targeted.
“We have to get involved in the competition, because, if we allow some of the private operators, the prices are going to be a barrier for people in agriculture,” Green said.
He noted that the farm-store initiative is intended to improve access to agricultural inputs while keeping costs manageable for farmers.
The minister also highlighted investments in agricultural storage infrastructure. These include a newly commissioned facility serving southern Manchester and St Elizabeth with capacity for at least 22 containers of produce, another storage facility nearing completion, and a $300-million storage project in Coleyville, Manchester.
In addition, the Government plans to install solar-powered, containerised storage units in major production areas. The facilities are expected to reduce post-harvest losses and allow farmers to store produce closer to their communities.
olivia.brown@gleanerjm.com