The Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) is encouraging more persons to take advantage of instruction offered through its Coffee Training Institute to become certified to evaluate coffee quality. The institute, which certifies regulatory cup testers, was established in 2019. During a recent interview with JIS News, JACRA’s General Director, Peter Thompson, shared that three staff members, who have been...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) will be undertaking resensitisation of its staff, beginning February, in accordance with its recently implemented ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. Certification was achieved by the Authority in December of 2022, following successful completion of stages one and two audits. Three RADA locations have been certified – the Corporate Office in Kingston, the St. Thomas...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (standing, right,) looks on as Chief Executive Officer of Home Grown Produce, David Young (seated, right) and Cascade Community Farmers Group member, Thelma Watson (seated, centre), display a signed contract, during an Agri-Business Symposium on January 19 at the Tropics View Hotel in Manchester. Others sharing the moment (from left) are...

Six new farm tractors, valued approximately $49.7 million, have been presented to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. They are intended to bolster activities in six high-producing parishes, namely St. Thomas, St. Ann, St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, Manchester and St. Catherine, and will add to the seven tractors currently in use by the entity....

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be rolling out several strategies under its ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart’ campaign this year. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. said that the initiatives include a Grow Smart, Eat Smart Research Day to showcase all the viable career options within the sector. “We are also going to be rolling out our Planting with...

Twenty Jamaicans, who have given outstanding service to the agricultural sector in various areas, have been recognised for their contribution. During a ceremony on Saturday (January 14) at the Medallion Hall Hotel in Kingston, the men and women were presented with the Agricultural Legacy Award by The Agriculturalist newspaper for their work as farmers, producers, exporters, scientists and researchers, educators,...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be strengthening the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS) in 2023, says Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. “Praedial larceny has been the scourge which hinders imminent growth for our sector, and it is the reason we are going to be very serious and bullish in advancing our efforts...

Board Chairpersons of entities under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have been encouraged to share their knowledge and skills to achieve greater efficiency in the different sectors. The call came from Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., during a recent meeting with the Board Chairpersons. “If you are in talks with an entity and you see...

Initiatives have been put in place to grow the coffee industry, says Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. Speaking at the press launch of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival on Monday, January 9, at Devon House, in Kingston, the Minister said the coffee industry remains a priority on the Ministry’s agenda. “The Ministry, through agencies like...