Farmers in Cinchona and Westphalia get training

A training seminar targeting farmers in Cinchona and Westphalia to teach them about aspects of agro forestry was recently staged at the Cinchona Park in the Blue and John Crow Mountains. About 20 farmers attended the training, which focused on land husbandry and soil conservation. It was held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The training session was conducted by the Forestry Department and the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) in collaboration with the Lions Club of Mona and the Forest Conservation Fund Marilyn Headley, CEO and Conservator of Forests at the Forestry Department said the training was aimed at teaching farmers how to practice their trade without destroying the trees. She encouraged the farmers to plant with conservation in mind. “Ensure that nobody cuts them, burns them or that animals destroy them. The aim is to keep the trees there,” she said. Denise Forest, Vice president of the Lions Club of Mona urged all in attendance to embrace the lessons being taught and to “do their best” to preserve the forest environment. “Whatever we have planned we should execute it and do it to the best of our ability so that it can be replicated in the future,” she said. Mr Johnson of the Forest Conservation Fund that is funding the reforestation project said the Fund was pleased to be a part of the project and that farmers must take care of the environment as it is vital to their trade. “Once you take care of the environment, it will take care of you,” he said. Representatives from RADA and the Forestry Department made presentations on soil conservation, tree planting and agro forestry. The RADA representatives also provided hands-on training for the farmers to reinforce the principles taught during the session. The training session is part of a project undertaken by the Lions and Leos Club of Mona in its efforts to help reforest sections of the Blue Mountain. The aim is to reforest some 25 hectares of land in Cinchona. Over 23 hectares of that amount has been replanted in the past three years. The need for the training session was given greater credence as a section of the area targeted for reforestation has been leased to the coffee farmers. The training is part of an agro forestry model implemented to reforest the lands to ensure that the farmers practiced sustainable agriculture while preserving the forest environment. Click on link below to view more:- FD Cinchona and Westphalia Training NB: Preferably viewed in MS Internet Explorer 7 or later and Google Chrome. Adode Flash Player is needed to view picture slideshow. If you do not have it, you can download it at the following: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/   For further information: Contact: Public Relations and Corporate Communications Branch Forestry Department 173 Constant Spring Road Kingston 8, Jamaica Call: 924-2667/8; 578-7155 Facsimile: 924-2626 Email: fblack@forestry.gov.jm DISCLAIMER! The Forestry Department (Ministry of Agriculture, Goverment of Jamaica) will use its best endeavours to ensure that all news and information provided on this Web site (www.forestry.gov.jm) is accurate and current. However, The Forestry Department does not guarantee that all the information provided here is current and accurate and cannot be held responsible nor liable for any information provided here which proves to be inaccurate or outdated in any respect.