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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses a virtual press briefing on Monday (May 4) at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Full Reopening Of Agriculture And Construction Sectors

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Cabinet has started to promote the full reopening of certain sectors, starting with agriculture and construction. “Last week, we announced the exemptions for the agricultural sector; we expect the agricultural sector to...

Shoppers purchase produce at a farmers’ market which was hosted at the Barbican football field in North East St. Andrew on Thursday (April 30). The event, which was organised by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, who is the Member of Parliament for the area, in collaboration with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), forms part of efforts to assist farmers in disposing of excess produce resulting from a downturn in demand, particularly within several key sectors such as tourism, due to the negative economic ripple impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

PHOTOS: Scenes From Barbican Farmers Market

Workers packaging food items at the first Drive-Thru Farmers’ Market, organised by the Agro-Investment Corporation on Wednesday (April 29), at 188 Spanish Town Road, Kingston 11.

PHOTOS: Agro-Investment Drive-Thru Farmers’ ‘Market

Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Audley Shaw, CD, MP

Farm Fresh Vegetables for Portmore

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (centre), along with President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Lenworth Fulton (left); and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dermon Spence (right), look at farm produce on display at the Ministry's Hope Gardens offices in St. Andrew. Occasion was the virtual launch of Farmer's Month at the Ministry on Thursday (April 9).

Minister Shaw Announces $100-Million Programme To Ramp Up Food Production

6 years ago AgricultureCommerceCoronavirusIndustry

Millions of Surplus Produce Redistributed

Over the past three weeks some $50 million has been allocated to redistributing excess crops and fresh produce held by farmers in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in Jamaica and the consequent fall out of demand from the tourism and other markets. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture Fisheries through its agency, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority working with...

6 years ago AgricultureCommerceCoronavirusIndustry

Export Fees are Down 50%, Says State Minister Green

As part of the government’s stimulus package, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) has cut export related fees and charges by 50 per cent. This move has been implemented by Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) and the Trade Board Ltd. State Minister at MICAF, Floyd Green says, “One of the matters that the Export Growth Team...

6 years ago AgricultureCoronavirusTourism

Tourism Linkages Network To Assist Farmers Sell Produce

Farmers affected by the closure of hotels due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), will receive assistance from the Tourism Linkages Network to offload their produce. This was disclosed by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who noted that through the use of technology, the Network will be supporting small famers to connect their supplies to market. “Now that...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green (right), in discussion with Vice President of Dencon Foods Limited, Nicholas Duke, at the company

6 years ago AgricultureCommerceCoronavirus

Government Secures Local Buyer For Excess Irish Potato

The Government has secured a buyer for half of the excess amount of Irish potato produced by small farmers. Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, said the purchase of 400,000 pounds of Irish potatoes by the Clarendon-based Dencon Foods Limited is significant, as the farmers are unable to sell more than...

President of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards.

6 years ago AgricultureCommerceCoronavirus

Agriculture Sector To Play Key Role In Country’s Recovery

President of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards, says Jamaica’s agriculture sector will be key to the country’s recovery from the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic. She told JIS News that the large acreages of land currently under production, as well as the linkages with other sectors, present a number of opportunities for Jamaican entrepreneurs to exploit. She noted that...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), present laptops and cell phones to Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green during a digital press briefing (April 2) to provide an update on the tourism sector. The equipment, purchased by the Tourism Enhancement Fund at a cost of $1.5 million, will enable staff at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to work from home and have access to the Agri-linkages Exchange (ALEX) platform to help farmers get rid of excess produce.

6 years ago AgricultureTourism

RADA Gets Equipment To Assist Farmers Sell Excess Produce

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has purchased six laptop computers and six cell phones at a cost of $1.5 million, which will enable staff at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to work from home and have access to the Agri-linkages Exchange (A.L.E.X) platform. They were handed over by Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett to Minister of State in the...

6 years ago AgricultureCoronavirus

Paperless Processing Of Import Permits At Agriculture Ministry

The Plant Produce Inspection Branch and the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries have implemented paperless processing for permits and phytosanitary certificates. All applications for import permits must be made online at www.moatrade.gov.jm website. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry, Hon. J.C Hutchinson, said the changes came into effect on March 18 and are...