Govt must adopt more effective waste management strategies - minister

Jamaica needs to employ more effective waste management strategies as part of the country's development model and to preserve resources such as food and water, according to agriculture and fisheries minister Christopher Tufton. In Jamaica, 30-40% of food that is produced is lost, which amounts to about J$5bn (US$58.5mn) annually, government news agency JIS reported. The loss is due to the poor harvesting processes and inadequate storage packing of produce for transport, Tufton said. As for water management, Tufton urged farmers to manage the water used for cultivation efficiently, and use conservation mechanisms such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting systems.