Directors - Caribbean Cement Company Limited

‘PLANTS FOR LIFE’The Plants for Life Programme was officially launched on August 4,2008 at the Bull Bay All Age School by the Hon. Minister of Agriculture.This programme is aimed at improving the socio-economic standard ofparticipants and by extension, the community. It is also aimed atimproving relations among stakeholders and encouraging selfsufficiency.The basis of the programme is the cultivation of short termcash crops by householders.Carib Cement and its subsidiary, Jamaica Gypsum & Quarries Limited(JGQ) provide the seedlings and farming implements, and facilitate thetechnical advice and input from the Rural Agricultural DevelopmentAuthority (RADA). To be able to supply seedlings to the community ona continuous basis, a nursery was established at the JGQ head office atHarbour Head, Kingston.The first phase of the programme started with a modest number of 10participants and quickly grew to 20. Householders grew tomatoes, sweetpeppers and hot peppers. Some reaped as much as 25 pounds of tomatoesand 10 pounds of peppers. They were able to sell their excess produce foras much as $1400.These householders are very anxious to continue their backyardagricultural projects. RADA has advised that they should follow-upwith different crops such as cabbage, bashment sorrel and pak-choi.They have also advised that crop rotation will alleviate insect and soilproblems.RADA expressed satisfaction with this initiative and will continueworking with householders for the sustainability of the Plants for LifeProgramme.Carib Cement and JGQ will be encouraging more householders toparticipate and will replicate this model in other surroundingcommunities in the near future.25ANNUAL REPORT 2008