The Government is to partner with local fertiliser manufacturer, Newport Fersan (Jamaica) Limited, to establish 186 gardens in public schools across the island. This was disclosed by Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson, during a tour of the company’s Wherry Wharf complex at Newport East, in Kingston on June 14. He...

The Government will be conducting a review of the 2013 Micro, Small and Medium-size Enterprises (MSME) and Entrepreneurship Policy. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, said the review will be undertaken over the next three months. Among the objectives are to update the policy, create a standard definition of MSMEs in order to improve reporting of...

Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Mike Henry, says that mined-out bauxite lands across the island will be returned to productive use, especially in the area of agriculture. During a tour of two water harvesting and greenhouse cluster projects in St. Ann on June 2, Mr. Henry said he is determined to ensure that the lands are returned to the people...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, has urged farmers in western Jamaica to re-enter the cattle industry, in an effort to reduce imports and improve the country’s position in beef and milk production. Speaking at the relaunch of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Savanna-la-Mar Methodist Church Hall on June 4, Mr. Samuda...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the Government has no intention of abandoning the local sugar industry. Addressing a ceremony in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, on June 4 to relaunch the parish’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Minister said that abandoning the sugar industry would be a retrograde step, and would negatively impact thousands of workers...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries says meat products available on the local market are safe. Senior Veterinary Officer and Technical Manager in the Veterinary Services Division, Dr. Winthorph Marsden, gave the assurance at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, where he addressed the issue of drug residue and environmental contaminants in food. He noted that local farmers tend...

The Jamaica Dairy Development Board will be donating milk to prenatal clinics at hospitals across the island in order to boost the nutritional health of expectant mothers. The hospitals are the Victoria Jubilee, Kingston; Linstead in St. Catherine; May Pen in Clarendon; and Cornwall Regional in St. James. Three litres of milk will be delivered to the facilities per week...