Among the varied impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic that struck the nation from March 2020 was the halting of the entertainment industry on a national level. This included renowned agricultural shows that have become a main-stay in showcasing the finest of Jamaica’s cuisine culture and providing an outlet for stakeholders within the agricultural sector to highlight new initiatives and programmes that benefit the farmers of Jamaica.

The recent staging of the Montpelier and St. Mary Agricultural Shows on Easter Monday, April 18, 2022 at the Montpelier Showground, Montpelier St. James and the Gray’s Inn Sports Complex, Annotto Bay, St. Mary were clear indications of a rebound and re-energized revival of the long awaiting bond and national support to the agricultural sector.

RADA St. James showcase at the Montpelier Show featured the theme From COVID-19 stronger for longer, with a bountiful main food display, plant doctor clinic, live demonstration of a drip-irrigation system, crop export display, information on small ruminant nutrition and sampling of creative twists on otaheite apples and pineapples by the Social Services and Home Economics Unit.

For the St. Mary Show, RADA within the Parish focused on a Throwback of Agriculture then to now. Mapping the extension areas covered by the organization, mulching techniques, the National Agricultural Identification Traceability System, Apiculture, the benefits of telemarketing and web-based platform for marketing through the Agri-Linkage Exchange and the varied modes of preparing irish potatoes.

The Agricultural Shows are back in living colours. Next stop is the Kingston and Andrew, Agrifest on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at the Ministry of Agriculture Main Field, Hope Gardens Kingston followed by the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show on July 30 – August 1, 2022 at Denbigh Showgrounds May Pen Clarendon. See you there.