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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), and Managing Director, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney, examine bottles of honey manufactured by the Hanover Bee Farmers’ Cooperative Society. They were on a recent tour of a new $27-million state-of-the-art honey-extraction and bottling facility at the old Rural Agricultural and Development Authority (RADA) Parish Office Complex in Lucea, Hanover. The facility, which will be operated by the cooperative society, will benefit more than 200 bee farmers in Hanover, St. James, Trelawny and Westmoreland.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), and Managing Director, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney, examine bottles of honey manufactured by the Hanover Bee Farmers’ Cooperative Society. They were on a recent tour of a new $27-million state-of-the-art honey-extraction and bottling facility at the old Rural Agricultural and Development Authority (RADA) Parish Office Complex in Lucea, Hanover. The facility, which will be operated by the cooperative society, will benefit more than 200 bee farmers in Hanover, St. James, Trelawny and Westmoreland.

Sweet Taste for Bee Farmers in Western Jamaica

Life should get a lot sweeter for more than 200 bee farmers in the western parishes who now have access to a new $27-million state-of-the-art honey-extraction and bottling facility – the first of its kind in Jamaica. By improving market...
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Peter Thompson (left), and President of the University of Technology (UTech), Professor Stephen Vasciannie, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deliver a postgraduate programme in rural development, at the institution’s Old Hope Road offices in St. Andrew on July 11.
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Peter Thompson (left), and President of the University of Technology (UTech), Professor Stephen Vasciannie, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deliver a postgraduate programme in rural development, at the institution’s Old Hope Road offices in St. Andrew on July 11.

UTech and RADA Sign MOU to Deliver Master’s Programme in Rural Development
Local Raw Material Business Development Manager for Red Stripe, Dr. Cavell Francis-Rhiney (right), shakes hands with Director of the Office of Environment and Health, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Jamaica, Sara Buchanan (left). This was shortly before the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Red Stripe and the USAID-funded Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change II (Ja REEACH II) Project for the provision of technical support to boost commercial cassava production under Red Stripe’s Project Grow initiative. The signing ceremony was held on Friday, July 7 at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. Looking on are board member of Ja REEACH, Mortimer Neufville (2nd left); and Chairman of the Desnoes and Geddes Foundation, operating company for Red Stripe, Noel DaCosta.
Local Raw Material Business Development Manager for Red Stripe, Dr. Cavell Francis-Rhiney (right), shakes hands with Director of the Office of Environment and Health, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Jamaica, Sara Buchanan (left). This was shortly before the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Red Stripe and the USAID-funded Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change II (Ja REEACH II) Project for the provision of technical support to boost commercial cassava production under Red Stripe’s Project Grow initiative. The signing ceremony was held on Friday, July 7 at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. Looking on are board member of Ja REEACH, Mortimer Neufville (2nd left); and Chairman of the Desnoes and Geddes Foundation, operating company for Red Stripe, Noel DaCosta.

Red Stripe to Engage More Farmers in Cassava Cultivation
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson. (FILE)
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson. (FILE)

Agro-Economic Zone for Hanover

New $30.3m Irrigation System Commissioned in New Forrest-duff House

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AgricultureCommerceIndustry

New $30.3m Irrigation System Commissioned in New Forest-Duff House

A total of 400 farmers who cultivate in the New Forest-Duff House Agro Park in Manchester now have improved irrigation access following the commissioning of a new $30.3 million industrial pump that will serve the area, on June 29. The facility was jointly funded by the World Bank, through its Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) being implemented by the Jamaica Social...
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Acting Principal Director, Technical Services, at Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Marina Young.
Agriculture

Field School Helping to Boost Farm Yields

The European Union (EU)-funded Farmer Field School (FFS) programme is helping to boost the yield of the country’s farmers, by scaling up best practices in agricultural production. Dubbed the “school without walls,” the initiative, being implemented by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), engages farmers in areas such as crop management and integrated pest control, among others. It is part...
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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (centre), listens to Acting Parish Manager of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Hillory McBayne (left), at the launch of the Grierfield and surrounding communities Anti-Praedial Larceny Initiative in Moneague, St. Ann, on June 22. Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of the island’s Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit (PLPU) in the Ministry, Kevin Francis, is at right.
Agriculture

Agro-Economic Zones to be Established in St. Mary and Hanover

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says discussions are being held with two private investors to establish agro-conomic zones in Annotto Bay in St. Mary, and in Hanover.    The zones are to provide farmers with a reliable market for their produce, and contribute to the reduction of praedial larceny. Addressing the launch...
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Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (2nd right) and Commissioner of Corrections at the Department of Correctional Services, Ina Hunter (3rd left) cut the ribbon to symbolize the official opening of the Hydroponics farm at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre recently. Observing are Correctional officers at the facility.
AgricultureNational Security

Hydroponic Farm Donated to St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre

The St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre has benefitted from the donation of a hydroponic farming facility from the College of Agriculture, Science and Education, which will aid in the rehabilitation of inmates. Hydroponic is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil. The farming system was officially handed over by State Minister in the Ministry...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left) listens to a point being made by President, Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Dr. Lincoln Edwards, during the institution’s fundraising banquet, in commemoration of the inauguration of the new president, at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on June 15 .
AgricultureEducationPrime Minister

NCU Urged to Undertake More Agricultural Based Studies

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is challenging researchers at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) to undertake more agricultural based studies and innovations which would redound to the benefit of the country. “If we manage to infuse technology and good management into our agricultural practises, we could increase our agricultural output tenfold and where you are in the centre...
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Chief Executive Officer at the Forestry Department and Conservator of Forests, Marilyn Headley.
Agriculture

Tourism Minister Highlights Need for Increased Funding for Tourism

In 1996, Marilyn Headley made history by becoming the first female Conservator of Forests in Jamaica and the Commonwealth. “They used to say, you don’t look like a forester; so I would always say, how is a forester supposed to look?” she relates to JIS News. The appointment as head of the Forestry Department – all the more meaningful, as...
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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, addresses the Customer Appreciation Luncheon and Awards Ceremony hosted by Hardware & Lumber Agro-Syngenta at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, on June 7.
Agriculture

Over $17 Million to Help Fight Beet Army Worm

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says $17.7 million has been allocated to assist farmers who were impacted by the beet army worm, especially in sections of Manchester and St. Elizabeth. This is in addition to the $118 million to provide assistance for some 10,000 farmers islandwide who were severely affected...
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