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Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), emphasises a point during discussion with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Limited and Secretary of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association, Norman Grant (left); and Chairman of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), James Rawle. Occasion was the launch of the Jamaican standard specification for coffee, JS 61:2016, at the BSJ headquarters in St. Andrew on February 1.
Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), emphasises a point during discussion with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Limited and Secretary of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association, Norman Grant (left); and Chairman of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), James Rawle. Occasion was the launch of the Jamaican standard specification for coffee, JS 61:2016, at the BSJ headquarters in St. Andrew on February 1.

Coffee Cess to Provide Resources to Develop Industry

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the move to impose a cess on green coffee beans imported into Jamaica will level the field for players in the local sector and provide resources to develop the industry....
Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Lebert Drysdale (centre) looks on as recipient of the Distinguished Old Farmer of Excellence for 2017, John R. Gayle (left) greets Old Farmers’ Association of North America (OFANA) scholarship awardee, Moya Campbell during a founders’ day ceremony at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), campus located at Passley Gardens, Portland on January 28.
Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Lebert Drysdale (centre) looks on as recipient of the Distinguished Old Farmer of Excellence for 2017, John R. Gayle (left) greets Old Farmers’ Association of North America (OFANA) scholarship awardee, Moya Campbell during a founders’ day ceremony at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), campus located at Passley Gardens, Portland on January 28.

Students Urged to Pursue Studies in Non-Traditional Areas
The vegetable garden established at Independence City Primary School.
The vegetable garden established at Independence City Primary School.

Vegetable Garden Set up at Independence City Primary
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (left), converses with Chief Executive Officer, PetroCaribe Development Fund, Dr. Wesley Hughes, at the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s (JSE) 12th Regional Investment & Capital Market Conference on Wednesday (January 25), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (left), converses with Chief Executive Officer, PetroCaribe Development Fund, Dr. Wesley Hughes, at the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s (JSE) 12th Regional Investment & Capital Market Conference on Wednesday (January 25), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.

Sugar to Contribute US$80 Million in Earnings this Year
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (left), speaking at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony for the in vitro propagation of Irish potato seeds programme, held on January 25 at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices. Others (from second left) are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; and Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Cliff Riley.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (left), speaking at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony for the in vitro propagation of Irish potato seeds programme, held on January 25 at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices. Others (from second left) are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; and Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Cliff Riley.

Agricultural Sector Aims to Supply 100 Per Cent of Local Demand for Irish Potato

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Minister without Portfolio in the Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), in discussion with LASCO Releaf Environmental Awareness Programme (REAP) Head, Stephen Newland, at the sub-launch of the programme at the St. Jago Cathedral Preparatory School in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, on January 24.
Agriculture

Farmers Encouraged to Practise Climate-Smart Agriculture

Minister without Portfolio in the Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, is encouraging farmers to practise climate-smart agriculture (CSA), to help grow the sector in a sustainable way. CSA refers to agriculture that sustainably increases productivity, enhances resilience or adaptation, reduces greenhouse gases where possible, and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals. Mr. Hutchinson...
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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda. (FILE)
Agriculture

New Lobster Licensing Regime Takes Effect July

A new Lobster Licensing Regime has been developed to make the industry more transparent and investor friendly. This will become effective July 2017. This is contained in a Ministry Paper tabled recently in the House of Representatives by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda. The new regime has been developed with the active participation of the...
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Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. JC Hutchinson (centre); and Mayor of Black River, Councillor Derrick Sangster (left); listen keenly as Farm Manager at Algix Jamaica Limited, Noel Thompson (right) explains the features of the Basa fish being held by the Minister, during a tour of the company’s plant in Barton Isle, St. Elizabeth on January 20.
Agriculture

Rural Community Benefits From Freshwater Fish Company

Algix Jamaica Limited, a three-year-old freshwater fish company located in Barton Isle, St. Elizabeth, is contributing significantly to Jamaica’s food security drive and providing employment for several community members. The company, whose main investors are based in the United States of America, operates on 338 acres of land, growing two species of fish - the tilapia and the Pangasius, better...
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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda. (FILE)
Agriculture

Sugar Industry on the Rebound

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the Government’s decision to step in and save the sugar sector is starting to reap rich dividends. According to the Minister, sugar will contribute some US$80 million (J$10 billion) in earnings this year, a far cry from the struggling sector it was only a year ago. “We have saved...
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Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. JC Hutchinson (centre); and Mayor of Black River, Councillor Derrick Sangster (left); listen keenly as Farm Manager at Algix Jamaica Limited, Noel Thompson (right) explains the features of the Basa fish being held by the Minister, during a tour of the company’s plant in Barton Isle, St. Elizabeth on January 20.
Agriculture

Fish Production on the Rebound – JC Hutchinson

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says fish production is on the rebound after experiencing years of decline. He noted that 10 years ago, Jamaica reached the pinnacle of fish production, with yields at approximately 7,000 metric tonnes of tilapia in 2007. Since then, he said, production has declined, largely due...
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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson (right), is greeted by Managing Director of Algix Jamaica Limited, Maurice Reynolds, when he arrived to launch the company’s Basa fish marketing programme on January 20. The Minister has commended Algix for its investment in the production of the Basa freshwater fish at the farm located at Barton Isle in St. Elizabeth.
Agriculture

Minister Commends Algix for Investment in Fish Production

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...
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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw (seated, left); and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Jamaica, Malgorzata Wasilewska (seated, right) affix their signatures to copies of the document for the disbursement of €6.5 million (J$910.2 million) in EU grant funding to Jamaica. At centre is Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda. Overseeing the process is Senior Negotiations Officer in the Finance Ministry, Nadine James. The signing took place at the National Heroes Circle offices of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service in Kingston on January 19. The money is being provided under the EU’s Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol Countries, Jamaica (AMS 2013) Project, which provides support to the country’s sugar industry.
AgricultureFinance & Public Service

More Assistance for Residents in Sugar-Dependent Areas

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...
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