The Hague Show’s legacy
THE HAGUE Agricultural & Industrial Show, which is held annually at the Hague Show Ground in Trelawny, has always been instrumental in highlighting and promoting the importance of agriculture to the local economy.
The agriculture tradeshow, throughout its 63 years of existence, has provided farmers across western Jamaica the opportunity to engage with suppliers and companies that sell agricultural-related products. This is all while exhibiting equipment, animals, and sports associated with agriculture and animal husbandry to the general public in an entertaining and family-oriented environment.
In turn, the show reminds traders, visitors, and sponsors alike about the performance of the agricultural industry, attracting newcomers, best practices, and techniques to the sector.
“The mandate of the Hague Agricultural Show remains the same as it always has been and that is to develop and give farmers in and around Hague the opportunity to engage with prospective customers as well as to get inside information on what is happening,” outlined Melissa Harper, the event coordinator.
“The show has been successful throughout the decades, and its growth is a testament to that, having close to 4,000 patrons last year and envisioning the event having more this year,” she added as organisers, the Trelawny Association of
Branch Societies (TABS) of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), promise a bigger and better 2018 staging.
The show’s growth and overarching influence on the agriculture has sparked recognition by a number of major companies and agencies such as the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries as well as long-time sponsor Hi-Pro.
“As part of the services of HiPro, livestock farmers can come on and get information on location, and so this is in keeping with the original mandate to prove support to farmers and services they otherwise may not be able to access to achieve their objectives,” said Harper.
The 2018 staging of the Hague Agricultural & Industrial Show is now set for February 14, with hopes of continued success to the benefit of the farming Trelawny and surrounding parishes.
“The show is not just for farmers in Trelawny, but also for the direct benefit of those farmers in neighbouring parishes coming in to showcase their livestock and produce,” Harper noted.
“In addition, TABS is no stranger to giving back to the community and has been doing so for decades. We embark on missions that are coordinated to benefit farmers who would not have easy access to traditional healthcare, and so forth. The association further partners and works within its own means to ensure that the youth are involved and they get an introduction to agriculture from a very young age, thereby guaranteeing the continuity of the industry,” she added.
‘The show is not just for farmers in Trelawny, but also for the direct benefit of those farmers in neighbouring parishes coming in to showcase their livestock and produce.’