The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has launched a new standard that will cover general safety requirements for electrical appliances for household and similar purposes. Launched on March 2 at the Bureau’s office, in Kingston, the new standard, known as JS IEC 60335-1:2010 (AMD1:2013+ AMD2:2016), will also cover voltages for…
Officials from the 33 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) member nations across the Americas will converge in Montego Bay, St. James, from March 5 to 8 for the 35th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean. The event will take place at the Montego Bay…
The Government is seeking to improve the approval process for licences to be issued to stakeholders in the local cannabis industry. This is according to Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, who says the industry has not progressed as anticipated. “We are not satisfied with the pace…
The Government will be undertaking the reforestation of 60 hectares of land in the Yallahs River and Hope River watersheds of the Blue Mountains in the upcoming fiscal year. A sum of $197.7 million has been set aside in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure to carry out this and other…
Adaptation measures aimed at building the country’s resilience to climate change are to be implemented in the Upper Rio Minho Sub-Watershed in Clarendon during the next fiscal year. These measures include the establishment of an agro-forestry programme, a community reforestation programme, establishment of a grass nursery, designing a crop suitability…
Essex Valley in St. Elizabeth is to benefit from the development of its irrigation infrastructure in the upcoming fiscal year. A sum of $457.6 million has been provided in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure to undertake this work and other activities. These include the development of lands; construction of access…
The Government of Jamaica is working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to develop an insurance scheme for crop and livestock farmers. Principal Director, Planning and Policy, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Shaun Baugh, said that there have been models in the past…
Another $412 million will be spent by the Government next fiscal year to carry out activities under a project aimed at enhancing the resilience of the agricultural sector and coastal areas. The money, which has been set aside in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, will go towards the supervision of…
A total of $47 million has been set aside to enhance the resilience of the agricultural sector and coastal areas. The allocation for the work is outlined in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to increase livelihood security of the population in…
The Government has allocated $75.3 million for the promotion of community-based climate resilience in the fisheries sector. The project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, aims to enhance resilience to climate change among targeted fishing and aquaculture communities of Jamaica. Details of the…
Facilitators of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ Frosty Pod Rot sensitisation sessions targeting cocoa farmers in St. Mary say the forums have been well supported by the beneficiaries. Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Representative in Jamaica, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, told JIS News that farmers in…
The Government has allocated approximately $450 million for the repair of 234.3 kilometres of farm roads across the island. Details are provided in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. The project, being implemented by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), aims to over time, rehabilitate…
The Government is to engage a consultant to assess and prepare a preliminary design for the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) Special Education Diagnostic Centre in Portland during the 2018/2019 fiscal year. Details of the $5-million project are outlined in the 2018/2019 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the…
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, is imploring dairy farmers to take steps to boost production and improve their competitiveness. “If we don’t find the answer to bringing our average production up from where it is now to a minimum of eight to 10 litres (per…
The Bodles Research Station in Old Harbour, St. Catherine is to be rehabilitated at a cost of $300 million. The allocation for the work, to be implemented by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, has been provided in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives,…
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, says the agriculture sector has recorded notable achievements despite inclement weather last year. He said these successes include continued self-sufficiency in eggs, poultry, pork and tubers; 88 per cent self-sufficiency in table Irish potato; and growth in non-traditional exports such as…
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, has expressed delight at the large number of young persons, particularly female farmers, who were directly involved in the 63rd Hague Agricultural and Industrial Show in Trelawny, on February 14. “I am so happy to see so many young people.…
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, has reassured farmers who are members of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) that the Government will not abandon the organisation, even as it seeks to relinquish budgetary support. Mr. Samuda was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 63rd Hague…
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the Government has committed another $70 million to assist farmers in Trelawny with the transportation of sugar cane to the Appleton Estate and Worthy Park factories this year. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 63rd Hague Agricultural and…
Jamaica will be hosting the 35th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean from March 5 to 8 at the Montego Bay Conference Centre in Rose Hall, St. James. The three-day event is expected to attract ministers of agriculture, social development,…
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