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Director of Engineering and Technical Services at the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), Rohan Stewart.

NIC Says Strategies Are in Place to Serve Customers During Dry Spell

The National Irrigation Commission (NIC) says strategies are in place to serve customers facing disruption during the current dry spell. “The NIC has been experiencing a reduction in the flow of surface water due to the current dry weather condition....

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (centre), looks at a bottle of black castor oil manufactured by Cestan Hills Nature’s Beauty and Delight, while the entity’s owner, Madge Conliffe (left), explains the benefits of the product. Occasion was the Hanover Agricultural Show, which was held at the Jockey Factory in Lucea on Saturday (May 25). At right is Local Economic Development Coordinator at the Social Development Commission's (SDC) Hanover office, Kimberly Ashley.

Bamboo Factory for Hanover

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw. (FILE)

Electronic Single Window A Game Changer for Importers and Exporters – Minister Shaw

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), looks at natural roots drinks, manufactured by D'TOS Woodland Roots and Natural Juices, while Proprietor, Oliver Welsh, observes. Occasion was the opening ceremony for the 12th staging of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation's small business exposition and conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on May 14.

Gov’t to Begin Divesting Former Sugar Cane Lands Shortly

Agriculture Students Charged to Find Climate Change Solutions

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), cuts the ribbon to mark the handover of drip irrigation equipment to farmers from Southfield and Bull Savannah in St. Elizabeth, at the Bethel Bible Camp in Southfield on Thursday (May 9). Looking on (from left) are Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Mike Henry; President of the Southfield Farmers’ Benevolent Society, Imogene Smith; Bull Savanna Benevolent Society’s executive, Tracey Powell; and Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney.

7 years ago Agriculture

300 St. Elizabeth Farmers Receive Irrigation Equipment Valued at $69 Million

Some 300 farmers who cultivate approximately 150 acres of land in Southfield and Bull Savannah in St. Elizabeth have benefited from drip irrigation tools and equipment valued at over $69 million. During a ceremony at the Bethel Bible Camp in the Malvern Chase District of Southfield on Thursday (May 9), each farmer was presented with 0.5 acres of drip irrigation...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, addressing the media launch of the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew on May 7. CHICOS is scheduled for November 14- and 15 at the Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay and Secrets St. James.

7 years ago AgricultureCommerceEducation

Gov’t Finalising National Investment Policy

The Government is working to complete the National Investment Policy before the end of the year. The policy will guide the development, administration and monitoring of the investment community, to ensure cohesion among all related initiatives, programmes, incentive regimes and stakeholder contributions. It is aimed at attracting and facilitating greater levels of investment for Jamaica. “We are now finalising our...

Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, emphasises a point while piloting the Protection of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Amendment) Act in the Senate on May 3. Seated is Minister without Portfolio in the ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.

7 years ago Agriculture

Senate Passes Protection of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Amendment) Act

No jobs will be lost consequent on the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ assumption of the functions of the Management Authority, which previously advised the Government on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. This is according to Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, who piloted the Protection of Plant...

Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA), Peter Thompson (seated left), along with Director, CNET-OUTAONE, Robert Thompson (seated, centre), prepare to sign copies of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at boosting support to farmers and agro-processors. Waiting to affix his signature (seated, right), is Co-founder, CNET-OUTAONE, Errol Bailey. Overseeing the process (standing, from left) are Robert Miller, Senior Advisor and Consultant to Minister without Portfolio, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson; Chairman, RADA, Nigel Myrie; and Vice President, Operations, CNET, Clarence W. Hill.

7 years ago Agriculture

More Support for Small Farmers and Agro-Processors

Small farmers and agro-processors are to benefit from increased support under the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) Agro-Processing Incubator Project, aimed at supporting the development of small-scale rural enterprises. The agency, on Wednesday (May 2), signed a memorandum of understanding with CNET-OUTAONE, to further strengthen the programme by offering training, technical advice and marketing support to users of the incubators. The...

National Security Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (left), greets Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (centre), and Coconut Industry Board (CIB) Chairman, Christopher Gentles, during the CIB’s Annual General Meeting at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on May 5.

7 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Urges Greater Collective Effort to Combat Praedial Larceny

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, has called for stronger collective efforts to enforce the law underpinning the Agricultural Produce Receipt Book System, which was established to combat praedial larceny. His urging comes against the background of complaints from several victims that enforcement of the law by the police force has, to some extent, been inadequate,...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), listens keenly as Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence, provides an update on the Jamaica Trade Information Portal, at the Office of the Prime Minister, in St. Andrew, on April 26. The Portal is expected to go live on May 16, 2019, and will be the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean. It can be accessed at: www.jamaicatradeportal.gov.jm

7 years ago AgricultureCommerceIndustryPrime Minister

PM Says Jamaica Trade Information Portal Will Improve Ease of Doing Business

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Jamaica Trade Information Portal will significantly improve the ease of doing business in the country, while creating an environment that facilitates greater trading opportunities. With this portal, Jamaica will have a single authoritative trade information source for businesses to easily access information they need at any time. It will be managed...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (centre), emphasises a point at a post-Sectoral press briefing at his Hope Gardens office in St. Andrew on April 24. He is flanked by Minister of State, Hon. Floyd Green (left); and Minister without Portfolio, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson.

7 years ago AgricultureCommerceIndustry

Technical Working Group Formed to Look Into Roundup Herbicide

A multi-agency technical working group has been established to thoroughly investigate the concerns surrounding the use of the Roundup herbicide in Jamaica. Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, said the group was constituted after the matter was brought to the Health Ministry, which houses the responsible authority for regulating such substances. “They (the multi-agency technical working group)...