Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson, has welcomed the decision by Algix Jamaica Limited to pump millions of dollars into the production of the Basa freshwater fish at its facilities in St. Elizabeth. Addressing a market launch for the fish in Barton Isle, St. Elizabeth, on January 20, the Minister...

Residents in sugar-dependent areas across the island are to benefit from an additional €6.5 million (J$910.2 million) in grant support from the European Union (EU). The money, which is being provided under the EU’s Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol Countries, Jamaica (AMS 2013) Project, was officially handed over on January 19 during a ceremony at the National Heroes Circle offices...

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson, is calling for more farmers in St. Ann to participate in the national Irish potato project. The Ministry is looking to establish 150 acres of crop in the parish. Already, some 75 farmers in areas such as Free Hill are engaged in planting, and...

The Government is embarking on measures aimed at safeguarding the sugar-cane industry against illicit fires. Key among the considerations is the introduction of drone technology to assist in monitoring cultivations and detecting fires, and a major public-education campaign to heighten public awareness of the need to safeguard the industry against this illicit activity. This was disclosed by Industry, Commerce, Agriculture...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, is encouraging farmers in Spring Garden, Portland, to organise and benefit from expansion in the agro-industry. The Government is in the process of entering into a long-term lease for the 200-acre Lennox property from the Agro Investment Corporation (AIC) to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority...

The Government’s thrust to increase production of high-quality seeds for agricultural production has been boosted with the acquisition of equipment and supplies valued at more than $2.5 million. The items, which include a seed extractor, germination chamber, forceps and Petri dishes, will be used to bolster the Seed Production Facility of the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine. They were...

The police are being urged to take a firm stand against persons who illicitly burn sugar cane, which has resulted in significant loss of income for farmers. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, said cane farmers must be protected against the practice, which can sometimes “wipe out” the means of survival for entire families and communities....

The Government has completed the standards which dictate that all brown sugar in the local retail market be adequately packaged and labelled. The Compulsory Standards (Declaration of Standard Specification) (Brown Sugar [Revised]) Order, 2016, was signed by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda and gazetted on December 30. Mr. Samuda, said the revised standards, which revokes...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries has lifted a ministerial order, placed in August, which stopped cocoa production across the island, in response to the frosty pod rot disease affecting the plant. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, said the Ministry will instead be using a strategy of field management with a view to control and eventually eradicate the...