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

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...

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.

Communities in Clarendon Receive Millions for Development Projects

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), tours a farm in Pennants, Clarendon, which was severely affected by the recent heavy rains. The Minister toured sections of the parish on Thursday (May 26) with officers from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

Gov’t Provides $18 Million to Assist Flood-Affected Farmers

Senior Director, Division of Training, Technology and Technical Information at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Winston Shaw, speaks about pest management at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’.

Farmers Urged to Practise Integrated Pest Management to Control BAW

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. JC Hutchinson (centre) accepts a sample of Newport-Fersan’s Potato-Lizer Fertilizer from a representative of the company, Business Development Manager, Hedda Rose-Pitter during a meeting with Irish Potato Farmers at the Restore Pentecostal Church in Devon, Manchester on May 17. At right is Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw.

Gov’t to Roll out Scotch Bonnet Pepper Programme

Principal Director, Training, Technology and Technical Information Division, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Marina Young (third left), speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the Agency’s head office in Kingston on May 12. Others (from left) are Senior Director, Training, Technology and Technical Information Division, RADA, Winston Shaw; Deputy Research Director, Crop and Plant Protection Unit, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Michelle Sherwood; and Senior Plant Health and Food Safety Specialist, Francine Webb

9 years ago Agriculture

New Measure Being Developed To Counter Beet Army Worm Infestation

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) is developing a forecasting system designed to boost measures to control the beet army worm. Deputy Research Director at MICAF, Michelle Sherwood, says the system, being developed with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is one of several strategies being undertaken by the Ministry. Mrs....

9 years ago Agriculture

Agro-Processors Being Encouraged To Use More Scallion

Agro-processors are being encouraged to use more scallion, to minimise the impact of the beet army worm (BAW) on farmers. “This would help, as farmers would have a ready market to supply the scallion as opposed to leaving them unattended in the fields, which is what creates a host for the BAW to reproduce and grow in numbers,” Deputy Research...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (3rd right), cuts the ribbon to officially commission into service an irrigation system to serve farmers in the Duff House/New Forest area of Manchester last Thursday (May 11). Others (in front row, from left) are Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South East, Frank Witter; National Irrigation Commission (NIC) board member, Theresa Turner; Chief Executive Officer of Southside Distributors, Denise Palmer; Caretaker, Alligator Pond Division, Ian Harriott; and Acting CEO NIC, Victor Nembhard.

9 years ago Agriculture

400 Manchester Farmers Benefiting from Irrigation System

Four hundred vegetable farmers in the Duff House/New Forest area of Manchester are benefiting from improved access to irrigation for their farms. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, officially commissioned the irrigation system into service during a visit to the area last Thursday (May 11). He said the farmers, who...

9 years ago Agriculture

Forestry Dept. to Lead Initiative to Restore Mangroves and Swamps

The Forestry Department will be moving on a number of initiatives for the restoration of the island’s mangroves and swamps as part of an expanded mandate to reforest those significantly depleted areas. Out of a Land Use Assessment conducted between 1998 and 2013, it was found that the two forest types have been depleted by some 98 per cent. The...

9 years ago Agriculture

Beet Army Worm to Impact Availability of Scallion

The beet army worm outbreak in South Manchester and surrounding communities is expected to significantly impact the availability of some produce, particularly scallion, in the local market. Principal Director, Training, Technology and Technical Information Division of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Marina Young, at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on May 12, described the impact as severe....

Deputy Research Director of the Crop and Plant Protection Unit, Research Development Division in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Michelle Sherwood, addresses JIS ‘Think Tank’ on May 12, about the Beet Army Worm and its impact on farmers.

9 years ago Agriculture

Farmers Urged To Be Careful When Buying Plants

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is urging farmers to be careful when purchasing plants, to avoid the Beet Army Worm (BAW). Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on May 12, Deputy Research Director of the Crop and Plant Protection Unit, Research Development Division in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Michelle Sherwood, said farmers outside St. Elizabeth...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon J.C. Hutchinson (left), in discussion with former Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Ludlow Mathison, at the launch of a Production and Marketing Organisation (PMO) parish group for St. Thomas, held at the Village Green Restaurant, in Morant Bay, on May 10.

9 years ago AgricultureCommerce

Agricultural Aides to Assist with Registration of Farmers

The Government is moving to make it easier for farmers to register with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon J.C. Hutchinson, says members of production and marketing organisations (PMOs) will be trained to become agricultural aides to assist extension officers with the registration of farmers. He was...