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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

The Government is embarking on measures aimed at safeguarding the sugar-cane industry against illicit fires. Key among the considerations is the introduction of drone technology to assist in monitoring cultivations and detecting fires, and a major public-education campaign to heighten...

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.

Agricultural Production Zone to be Established in Portland

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.

High-Quality Seeds for Farmers

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

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

Sugar Standards Gazetted

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...

9 years ago Agriculture

JAS President Upbeat That Christmas Demand Will Be Met

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Norman Grant, is upbeat that the sector will respond fully to the demand for chicken, pork and eggs for the 2016 Christmas season. In an interview with JIS News, Mr. Grant adds that due to the sector’s record 28 per cent growth for the third quarter this year, there will be no need...

9 years ago AgricultureCommerce

Trade Facilitation Task Force Urged to Focus on Boosting Competitiveness

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, has charged members of the Trade Facilitation Task Force to explore strategies that will enable the country to become more competitive within the Caribbean region and globally. “We must collectively… concentrate immediately without delay on ways of reducing our charges at the port of entry… to remove bureaucracy from the...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (right), shares pleasantries with Member of Parliament for Eastern Westmoreland, Luther Buchanan, at a national Irish potato programme stakeholders’ seminar at the Assemblies of God Church in Darliston on December 15.

9 years ago Agriculture

Westmoreland Farmers to Plant 70 Hectares of Irish Potato

Just over 70 hectares of Irish potato are expected to be planted by farmers in Westmoreland under the 2016/17 national Irish potato programme. This is up from 31.2 hectares, which were planted by 101 farmers in the parish in 2015/16. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, said that emphasis will be...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson. (FILE)

9 years ago Agriculture

Training for Bee Farmers

To strengthen the apiculture industry to respond to climate change and associated challenges, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries provided specialised training for 14 beekeepers and eight staff members of the Apiculture Unit. The training was funded by a grant of US$25,000 under the Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (JA REEACH) project. This was...