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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.

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,...

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.

Minister Commends Algix for Investment in Fish Production

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.

More Assistance for Residents in Sugar-Dependent Areas

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson, helps to prepare a plot for planting, during a tour of Irish Potato farms in Free Hill, St. Ann on January 19.

Farmers in St. Ann Urged to Participate in National Irish Potato Project

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (left), addressing a recent stakeholders meeting at Frome Sugar Factory in Westmoreland. Looking on is new Chief Executive Officer of the Pan Caribbean Sugar Company, which operates the factory, Madam Liu Chaoyu.

Gov’t to Implement Safeguards Against Illicit Burning of Sugar Cane

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), addresses farmers and investors in Spring Garden, Portland, on January 12.

9 years ago Agriculture

Agricultural Production Zone to be Established in Portland

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, is encouraging farmers in Spring Garden, Portland, to organise and benefit from expansion in the agro-industry. The Government is in the process of entering into a long-term lease for the 200-acre Lennox property from the Agro Investment Corporation (AIC) to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (second right), listens as Executive Director, Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Barton Clarke (third right) explains the purpose of a seed extractor, which was among equipment and supplies donated to the Ministry by CARDI. Also pictured (from left) are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; and Agricultural Attaché, Delegation of the European Union in Jamaica, Stefano Cilli. The donation, valued at more than $2.5 million was presented during a ceremony at the Hope Gardens offices of the Ministry in St. Andrew, on January 11. The items will be used to bolster the Seed Production Facility of the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine.

9 years ago Agriculture

High-Quality Seeds for Farmers

The Government’s thrust to increase production of high-quality seeds for agricultural production has been boosted with the acquisition of equipment and supplies valued at more than $2.5 million. The items, which include a seed extractor, germination chamber, forceps and Petri dishes, will be used to bolster the Seed Production Facility of the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine. They were...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda. (FILE)

9 years ago Agriculture

Minister wants Police to Take Firm Stand Against the Illicit Burning of Sugar Cane

The police are being urged to take a firm stand against persons who illicitly burn sugar cane, which has resulted in significant loss of income for farmers. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, said cane farmers must be protected against the practice, which can sometimes “wipe out” the means of survival for entire families and communities....

9 years ago Agriculture

Sugar Standards Gazetted

The Government has completed the standards which dictate that all brown sugar in the local retail market be adequately packaged and labelled. The Compulsory Standards (Declaration of Standard Specification) (Brown Sugar [Revised]) Order, 2016, was signed by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda and gazetted on December 30. Mr. Samuda, said the revised standards, which revokes...

9 years ago Agriculture

Ministerial Order Stopping Cocoa Production Lifted

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries has lifted a ministerial order, placed in August, which stopped cocoa production across the island, in response to the frosty pod rot disease affecting the plant. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, said the Ministry will instead be using a strategy of field management with a view to control and eventually eradicate the...

Agriculture Specialist, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Vincent Thompson.

9 years ago Agriculture

Drip Irrigation Project Targeting Food Security

The Government is moving to safeguard Jamaica’s food security against the impact of climate change through the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) drip irrigation project. Agricultural Specialist with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), which implements REDI, Vincent Thompson, tells JIS News that the project is an “aggressive approach” to minimizing the debilitating effects of climate change on agriculture. Mr....

9 years ago Agriculture

SRC to Produce More Disease-Free Planting Material

A new $500,000 water-filtration system is expected to enhance the Scientific Research Council’s (SRC) capacity to produce more disease-free planting material for selected food crops. The system, which was provided by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) was handed over during a ceremony at the SRC’s Hope Gardens location in St. Andrew, today (December 20). It will be used...