As part of efforts to generate greater levels of income and profits from production and marketing activities at the individual and group levels, a Co-operatives Farmers Market was officially launched on Friday 12th December. The launch took place at the St Vincent Co-operative Bank’s parking lot, located at Heritage Square, at 9:00 a.m.

The proposed initiative emerged out of an ongoing business planning training by the Ministry and seeks to develop practical experience among co-operatives to collectively produce and market fruits and vegetables.

Addressing Friday’s launch were Registrar of Co-operatives, Mr. Cecil Jackson; Mr. Chin Lee of the Taiwanese Technical Mission; Acting Chief Agriculture Officer, Mr. Ashley Cain and Minister of mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities and Youth, Hon. Frederick Stephenson.

Minister of Agriculture, Industry, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation, Hon. Saboto Caesar officially declared the launch.

Acting Chief Agricultural Officer, Ashley Caine said that the Ministry is continuing to implement programs which are aimed at further developing the local Agricultural Industry.  Also, one of the ways in which they are building capacity within the Industry is through the Ministry’s partnership with the Taiwanese Agricultural Mission to build Farmers’ Co-operatives.

The Co-operative Farmers Market was opened for the public to purchase their Agricultural produce from Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th December.