Phenomenal women of agriculture honoured

Twenty phenomenal women who have made significant contributions to the field of agricultural education were awarded by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) on Wednesday.

The presentations were made at the entity's 'Women in Agriculture' Conference, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew under the theme 'From Boots to Heels'.

Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams pointed out that women have always played a critical role in agriculture.

"Often, their contributions have been overlooked or undervalued, and so this conference is to raise the awareness among Jamaican men and women, to the contribution of women in agriculture," she said. Pointing out that women account for roughly 32 per cent of registered farmers in Jamaica, Williams further hailed the awardees and spoke to the value of agricultural training institutions in empowering them to attain higher heights.

Among the women honoured were Alicia Fulton, national home economics coordinator at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs; Dr Claudia Dunkley, research scientist; Joy Vincent, head of the agriculture department at the Garvey Maceo High School; Suzette Johnson, master trainer for the National Standard Curriculum; Barbara Smith, former principal of the Jamaica School of Agriculture; Dr Clover Mattocks, veterinary surgeon; Denise Davidson-Clarke, agricultural science teacher; Doreen Ogle, former head of the home economics department at Jose Marti Technical High School; Dr Leonie Clarke, associate professor, University of Technology; Lillieth Clarke-Sinclair, dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE); Melita Cooper, St Thomas Technical High School educator; Michelle Sherwood, deputy research director for crop production and plant protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; and Natalie Wallace-Thompson, principal of the Knockalva Polytechnic College.

In addition, four agricultural training institutions were recognised, namely CASE, Dinthill Technical High School, Knockalva, and the HEART/NSTA Trust.