Banana and plantain farmers islandwide are being encouraged to register with the Banana Board’s Catastrophe Fund in preparation for the 2026 hurricane season. The Fund is a disaster‑recovery insurance scheme created to support Jamaica’s banana and plantain farmers after hurricanes and other catastrophic events. It aims to assist producers serving both export and domestic markets. To benefit, farmers must register...

The Ministry of Finance and Public Service has agreed to remove the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on seeds for the next three months to support farmers. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, in making the announcement, said that the temporary waiver covers almost the entire vegetable seed line, allowing farmers to purchase seeds at significantly lower prices...

More than 1000 fresh fruit and vegetable farmers in Flagaman and surrounding areas in St. Elizabeth, now have access to modern cold storage facilities, which will cut their losses from spoilage, boost their productivity and profitability, and stabilise market supply. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, on Friday (Dec. 5), officially opened two 20-foot, solar-powered cold storage...

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, has assured that there will be sufficient food available for Christmas, as items such as fruits, vegetables and table eggs will be imported to cover production gaps. The Minister said the country was experiencing challenges with egg availability prior to Hurricane Melissa’s arrival, an issue which has been exacerbated by the...

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is seeking support to establish a veterinary field hospital in western Jamaica, ensuring farmers and pet owners have access to essential animal care. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, noted that the temporary hospital is especially necessary, as three of the four veterinary stations in western Jamaica were severely damaged during the passage of...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has called for unused and underutilised former sugar lands to be immediately put into production. He made the appeal on Tuesday (December 2) during the ceremony to break ground for the US$50-million Tropical Sugar Company Limited in Chesterfield, Clarendon. The project, situated opposite the former Monymusk Estate, aims to revitalise sugar production...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has welcomed a US$50-million investment by Tropical Sugar Company Limited to re-establish commercial-scale sugar production in Clarendon. The new state-of-the-art, vertically integrated facility with an installed capacity of 50,000 metric tons will be situated in Chesterfield, near to the former Monymusk Estate. Construction is set to begin in January 2026 and is...