Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says come next year, work will begin to bring an end to the importation of tomatoes, carrots, red peas, thyme and green gungo peas, through increased production. He noted that so far this year, farmers have produced 90 per cent of the Irish potatoes consumed...

Local businesses are to benefit from a rebranded Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), which will now focus on trade facilitation and business support, instead of regulations. The new focus will aid Jamaican businesses in being more competitive in the local and export markets through the use of standards. The shift is part of recommendations from the International Bank for Reconstruction...

Interim President of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), Dr. Derrick Deslandes, plans to transform the multidisciplinary tertiary institution into a university within the next five years. He said that in order to achieve the objective, more research-based academic staff will be hired and new methods and technologies introduced, such as clean plant material to improve farmer productivity;...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, has lauded the ‘Salute to Farmers’ initiative being undertaken by St. Jago Farm and Hardware Supplies Limited (SJFHS) to assist farmers who suffered losses during recent flood rains. Under the initiative, the company collaborates with its international suppliers to provide farmers with key inputs to...

A Bill seeking to modernise the agricultural sector to meet the nation’s growing demands of food security and productivity was passed in the Senate on October 6. The Agricultural Loan Societies and Approved Organisations Act also facilitates the dissolution of the Agricultural Credit Board (ACB) and transfers the Board’s monitoring and regulatory functions to the Registrar of Co-operative and Friendly...

Several communities in upper Clarendon will benefit from a US$783,000 Climate Change Adaptation programme, courtesy of the Environmental Health Foundation (EHF). Project Manager with the EHF, Faradaine Forbes-Edwards, told JIS News that the initiative is to increase production and improve the livelihood of farmers in the communities that are prone to disasters. Representatives of the organisation have commenced registering farmers...

Registered coffee farmers are to benefit from an $80-million initiative that is expected to improve and increase their yields over time. The project, which falls under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ Productivity Incentive Programme, will focus on training; the purchase of inputs, such as fertilisers and fungicides, and tools. Speaking at a press conference on October 3...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, has applauded the Jamaica 4-H Clubs for moving to stage farmers’ markets, providing a ready-made market for farm produce. The inaugural event was held on Friday (September 29) at the 4-H headquarters on Old Hope Road in St. Andrew. Mr. Hutchinson, who spoke to JIS...

Farmers across western Jamaica, particularly in St. Elizabeth, are optimistic that the US$5-million Hounslow Animal Research facility in the parish will go a far way in improving both the quality and quantity of the nation’s small-ruminant stock. The facility, which was officially opened in 2016, offers artificial insemination and embryo transfer services to farmers who are involved in goat and...