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President of the Round Hill Farmers’ Group, Richard Hanson tends to his cassava plot in Round Hill, St. Elizabeth. (File photo)

West Central St. Catherine Farmers to Benefit from Ginger and Pineapple Project

Some 3,000 farmers in West Central St. Catherine are to benefit from a ginger and pineapple programme being spearheaded by Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton in collaboration with Newport Fersan. At the recent launch of the project...

President, Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Norman Grant (centre), admires a piece of pumpkin during the 13th anniversary of the Eat Jamaican Day exposition on the lawns of Devon House in Kingston, today (November 25). Others (from left) farmer Lascelles Simmond; Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Stephen Wedderburn; Custos of Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller, and 2016 National Farm Queen, Safiya Clennon.

Food-Import Bill Trending Down

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, addresses the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers’ Association Annual General Meeting held at Spanish Court Hotel, New Kingston, on November 22.

Agriculture Minister Outlines Model for the Allocation of Cane Lands

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (2nd right), presents a bag of Irish potato seeds to farmer Anthony Johnson (second left), during a recent Irish potato Stakeholders’ Seminar in New Market, St. Elizabeth. Sharing in the occasion (from left) are St. Elizabeth RADA Parish Manager, Nathan Samuels; Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence, and Shakeera Thomas, representing Glastonbury Purveyor Company, producer of the Irish potato seeds.

Minister Expects Agriculture to Grow by 30% in Final Quarter

Agricultural Marketing Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Sandor Pike (right), converses with Small Ruminants Association of Jamaica (SRAJ) President, Kenneth King (centre), during the SRAJ’s annual conference at the Bodles Agricultural Research Station in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, on Thursday (November 17). Mr. Pike represented Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Reginald Budhan.

Goat and Sheep Farmers Urged to Boost Meat Production

Agricultural Marketing Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Sandor Pike, delivers an address on behalf of Acting Permanent Secretary, Reginald Budhan, at the annual conference of the Small Ruminants Association of Jamaica (SRAJ), held on Thursday (November 17), at the Boodles Agricultural Research Station in Old Harbour, St. Catherine.

9 years ago Agriculture

Large-Scale Investment Needed in Small-Ruminants Industry – Budhan

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Reginald Budhan, has underscored the need for large-scale investments in Jamaica’s small-ruminants industry. This, he said, is in order to facilitate the expansion of the subsector by increasing the size of goat and sheep herds and diversifying outputs to include by-products such as cheese and milk. “The production...

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, CD, MP

9 years ago Agriculture

Minard Livestock Show a Plus for Agriculture – Samuda

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the annual Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival in Brown’s Town, St. Ann, is a clear demonstration that agriculture is alive and well in Jamaica. Addressing the 17th staging of the event on November 10, the Minister noted that agriculture sometimes finds itself on the ‘back burner’ of “our...

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence (left), is in light conversation with Vice President of Investment and Promotions at the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Claude Duncan. Occasion was a ‘Do Business Jamaica’ Agriculture Investment Forum hosted by JAMPRO at the entity’s New Kingston offices on November 15.

9 years ago Agriculture

Gov’t Exploring Non-Traditional Products for Export

The Government is exploring a range of non-traditional products to market overseas, as part of a deliberate strategy to expand exports. Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence, said there is high demand for sweet potato, melon, mango, pineapple, yam, dasheen, pepper, pumpkin, herbs, spices and nutraceuticals. He credits the demand to a...

Assistant Manager in charge of Strategy and Business Support at GK Insurance, Jordan Tait addressed a JIS Think Tank, recently.

9 years ago AgricultureCommunity

GK Insurance Introduces Policy to Cover Loss of Income due to Natural Disaster

Farmers and persons living in areas that are susceptible to catastrophes can benefit from insurance coverage under a policy developed by GK Insurance. The Livelihood Protection Policy (LPP) covers loss of income due to heavy rains or high wind speed. Assistant Manager in charge of Strategy and Business Support at GK Insurance, Jordan Tait, said the scheme is aimed at...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), greets Property and Fixed Asset Manager of the Agro-Investment Corporation of Jamaica, Rickman Edwards (right) following a board meeting at the agency’s Spanish Town Road office in Kingston on November 9. Looking on (from second left) are Chief Executive Officer, Courtney Cole and Chief Financial Officer, Kadiana Ramballi.

9 years ago AgriculturePrime Minister

PM Urges Agro Corporation to Focus on Increasing Investment

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has mandated the Agro-Investment Corporation of Jamaica (AIC) to focus on expanding the agriculture sector and creating an environment for investment. “There are some critical things that we have to look at such as how do we get investments for special zones for agriculture, including the development of agro-parks,” he said. “Also, getting...

Deputy Chief of Party, Ja REEACH II Project, Dianne Dormer, speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on November 8.

9 years ago AgricultureEnvironment

Agricultural Sector Impacted By Ja REEACH Project

The Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (Ja REEACH) Project has had a significant impact on the agricultural sector since it began in 2012. Deputy Chief of Party, Ja REEACH II Project, Dianne Dormer , said the project, which is now in its second phase, has implemented a number of initiatives across the country. “Over the 2012...

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

9 years ago Agriculture

Government Removes GCT on Agricultural Inputs

Cabinet has decided to remove the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on a long list of agricultural inputs. This announcement was made by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, during the sitting of the House of Representatives on November 8. Some of the agricultural inputs include semi-trailers, chain wire fencing; cooling and storage tanks, multipurpose fish-feeding machines,...