Pavillions that were usually abuzz with activities during the annual Denbigh show were devoid of farmers and produce on Tuesday, as several of those in the agricultural sector continue their struggle to bounce back from last months battering from Hurricane Beryl.
Determined that the show must go on, government officials and sponsors of the annual agricultural show decided to host it even though this meant scaling back from the usual three days to one. Jamaica Broilers Group – through its Hi–Pro brand, provided entertainment and food, while several booths were set up on the 70-acre property showcasing a wide variety of products and services. But, while patrons braved intense heat to enjoy the days offerings, it was very obvious that this year’s show was vastly different from those in the past.
“Doing a one day show, we did not do any pavillion activities, we are just trying to re-engage our farmers,” one extension officer from Clarendon told the Freedom Come Rain newspaper.
He said the agricultural displays were just confined to one main building. But on entering that building, the sparsity of ground provisions presented by a handful of farmers were not enough to meet the seeming demand for crops by bargain hunting patrons who generally take advantage of lower food prices on offer each year. Two vendors who were spotted outside of the general pavillion were flocked as customers took up green bananas and other crops on sale.
Livestock exhibitions were also scaled down and cattles which would generally feature in several competitions during the annual event were nowhere in sight. What was in abundance however, were agro-processors who displayed their wide variety of tonics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics from natural ingredients.
Speaking about the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl, Agriculture Minister Floyd Green noted that more than 48,000 farmers and 11,000 fishers were impacted by the hurricane. In addition to this, farmers lost over 300,000 birds, about 90% of the country’s banana and planting crop was destroyed, and over 236 greenhouse structures were damaged by the hurricane.
Despite the extensive damage, Green pointed to the resilience of those in the farming community.
“They said clearly we don’t have no control over what God does so just provide us with the support and we will get back out there,” he said.
Green said the agriculture Ministry has reallocated $700 million to start the recovery process and the Denbigh show was apart of this recovery process. He said they have also procured over 10,000 packages of seeds that are now being distributed. Bags of fertilizer are also being given out with the help of Newport-Fersan.