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Acting Principal Director, Technical Services, at Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Marina Young.

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...

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.

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

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.

Hydroponic Farm Donated to St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre

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 .

NCU Urged to Undertake More Agricultural Based Studies

Chief Executive Officer at the Forestry Department and Conservator of Forests, Marilyn Headley.

Tourism Minister Highlights Need for Increased Funding for Tourism

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.

9 years ago 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...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (right) and President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Norman Grant (2nd left), cut the Denbigh 65th Anniversary cake, at the launch of the Denbigh 2017 Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, today (June 7), at the Hi-Pro Supercentre in White Marl, St. Catherine. Others (from left) are President of Jamaica Operations at Jamaica Broilers Group, Conley Salmon; Second Vice President of the JAS, Glendon Harris; Chief Executive Officer at the JAS, Christopher Emanuel; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry, and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Broilers Group, Christopher Levy.

9 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Confident Sector will Rebound

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says he is confident the agricultural sector will rebound to continue its growth contribution to the economy. The agricultural sector contributed 7.5 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016, but the heavy rains in May affected some 10,000 farmers, resulting in losses worth $800 million. Speaking at...

Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, and wife of the Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Juliet Holness (2nd left), assists member of Settlement, Sheila Morrison (3rd left), to display trophy for placing first in the Quality Cup contest, organised by Ueshima Coffee Company (UCC) and held today (June 1), at Craighton Hall Estate, in Irish Town, St. Andrew. Others are (from left) Cynthia Robinson, representing second place New Grange/Woodford; Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano; and Roxanne Richards, representing Middleton, which placed third.

9 years ago AgriculturePrime Minister

Coffee Farmers Urged To Adopt Best Practices

A call has been made for players in the coffee industry to utilise best practices for its sustainability. Making the call, Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, and wife of the Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Juliet Holness, says the industry is a mainstay of her constituency, and a major export commodity for Jamaica, hence the need for...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), and President of the New Forest/Duff House Water Users Association, Conrad Murray, examine spray equipment. Occasion was the handover of plant material and equipment to farmers in South Manchester and South St. Elizabeth, who have been affected by the beet army worm, at the Water Users Association’s office in Manchester on May 31.

9 years ago Agriculture

Gov’t Provides $17. 5 Million to Assist Farmers Affected by Beet Army Worm

Farmers in South Manchester and South St. Elizabeth who have been affected by the beet army worm, have benefited from $17.5 million in support from the Government. The farmers have lost some 150 acres of scallion, tomato, cucumber, callaloo, onion, and beetroot to the pest. “We (are) assisting them with everything to get them back on their feet,” said Minister...

9 years ago Agriculture

Gov’t to Roll out Scotch Bonnet Pepper Programme

The Government is set to roll out a Scotch bonnet pepper programme in North East Manchester in the next few weeks. This was announced by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, during a meeting with Irish Potato Farmers at the Restore Pentecostal Church in Devon, Manchester, on May 17. He explained...

Senior Plant Health & Food Safety Specialist at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Francine Webb, speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’.

9 years ago Agriculture

Farmers Urged not to Overuse Pesticides

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is urging farmers not to overuse pesticides on crops during pest outbreaks. “I want to remind farmers that they are to be guided by the recommendations on the labels,” Senior Plant Health & Food Safety Specialist, Francine Webb, told JIS News. She said that excessive use of chemicals can lead to the consumers, fieldworkers...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Rudyard Spencer (right), who is also Member of Parliament for South East Clarendon, accepts a copy of the Clarendon Local Sustainable Development Plan (CLSDP) from Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Winston Maragh (centre), and Minority Leader at the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, Councillor Scean Barnswell (left). Occasion was the recent launch of the plan at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in the parish.

9 years ago Agriculture

Communities in Clarendon Receive Millions for Development Projects

The seven development areas in Clarendon have benefited from millions in funding to undertake initiatives to drive social and economic growth at the local level. The support was provided under the Clarendon Local Sustainable Development Plan (CLSDP), which is being implemented by the Clarendon Municipal Corporation through a $32-million grant. Of the sum, $20 million was provided by the European...