Ja to bump up production of ORNAMENTAL FISH
Young entrepreneur almost gave up on dream
WESTERN BUREAU: JAMAICA IS poised to increase production and enter the ornamental fish export market with the opening of the $23-million Myrtle Farm Industries at Providence in St James.
The farm, operated by 29-yearold businesswoman Rachel Anderson, has commenced operation providing a niche market for inner-city youths in western Jamaica.
The project, based in North West St James Member of Parliament Dr Horace Chang’s constituency, has been hailed as innovative and forward-thinking.
“There is greater economical gains if Jamaicans farm in areas where they have an edge because of the country’s geographical position, than continue to compete in customary agricultural areas,” said Chang, adding that the country was now looking for areas where their location, climate, and the innovativeness and character of their people will give them special advantages.
“It will be in niche markets like ornamental fish and other areas where we can take specialised projects like Blue Mountain coffee,” he argued.
ENCOURAGEMENT
Chang and Valerie Viera of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation are among the people who have encouraged the young entrepreneur not to give up.
“Jamaica won’t compete in traditional agriculture. Every time we get up and say the answer to Jamaica’s problem is from farming, that’s not quite true. We are a small country. One sugar cane farm in Brazil is bigger than Jamaica; one soya bean plantation, we have to fly over it,” Chang said.
His comments come in the wake of suggestions made by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke, who stated last year that Jamaica was poised to take advantage of the lucrative US$400-million global ornamental fish industry.
Chang blamed what he termed as the “plantation economy” for the birth and perpetuation of Jamaica’s poor economic state.
“Plantation economy has been the cause of persistent poverty in Jamaica and it is still part of it,” he said.
Anderson, who had difficulties starting her business, said after a number of doors were slammed in her face, she sought help from a number of non-governmental organisations.
“I faced many naysayers, many closed doors, and countless heartbreaks and disappointments,” she told The Gleaner.
Had it not been for Viera, she said she would have given up.