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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), addressing media briefing on September 29, at the Ministry’s offices in New Kingston. He gave an update on the Frosty Pod Rot disease, which is affecting local cocoa. At left is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Reginald Budhan.

Agriculture Ministry to Spend $150 Million to Eradicate Cocoa Disease

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will spend $150 million over the next three years to eradicate the frosty pod rot disease that is affecting the local cocoa industry. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Reginald Budhan, addresses the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Regional Agri-Value Chain Financing Forum, held at the Courtleigh Hotel & Suites on September 26.

Innovative Ways Must be Found to Attract Agricultural Investors – PS

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, looks at equipment at the Sugar Industry Research Institute (SIRI) in Mandeville, which was donated by the European Union. Occasion was the opening of the Sugar Industry Authority’s (SIA) inaugural post-crop seminar at SIRI on September 21.

Standard to be Developed for Imported Sugar

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (second left), listens to Lab Supervisor, Althea Lawson (second right), as she explains the functions of the equipment donated by the European Union (EU), at the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) inaugural post-crop seminar, at the Sugar Industry Research Institute (SIRI) in Mandeville, on September 21. Looking on (from left) are Head of Cooperation of the EU, Achim Shaffert, and Acting Director of Research at SIRI, Dr. Maureen Wilson.

Discussions in Progress for Divestment of Sugar Factories

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), listens as Technical Representative for Canadian entity Lambert Peat Moss Inc., Ramon Alvarado (left), provides details on a bag of plant seeds produced by the company, which was on display during a stakeholder seminar at Caymanas Golf and Country Club in St. Catherine on Tuesday, September 20. The seminar was jointly staged by Lambert Peat and Jamaica Floral Products Limited/Evergrow Garden Centre under the theme ‘High Quality Growing Media at the Root of High Quality Seedling Growth and Crop Production’. Also listening (from 2nd left) are Lambert Peat’s International Sales Manager, Richard De Quesada; and Jamaica Floral Products Limited/Evergrow Garden Centre General Manager, Burrell Scarlett.

Agriculture Minister wants more Youth Involved in Sector

10 years ago AgricultureParliament

House Passes Bill to Set Up Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority

A Bill to establish the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 20. The Authority will merge and replace the existing Coffee Industry Board, Cocoa Industry Board, the regulatory functions of the Coconut Industry Board and the Export Division of the Ministry. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl...

Minister without Portfolio in the Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), in discussion with Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Sylvain Fabi, on the final of a two-day Climate-Smart Agriculture symposium, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on September 14.

10 years ago Agriculture

Hutchinson to Advocate Removal of GCT on Imported Farm Supplies

Minister without Portfolio in the Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says he will be advocating for the removal of general consumption tax (GCT) on imported farm supplies. Mr. Hutchinson noted that these items, which contribute to the development of the local agricultural industry and help to increase farmers’ production, should not attract GCT. “The farmer will...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (left) exchanges greetings with Chief of Mission, United States Agency for International Development Agency (USAID) Jamaica, Maura Barry Boyle (2nd right), just before the start of the opening ceremony for the climate smart agriculture symposium at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston today (September 13). Others (from second left) are Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Reginald Budhan; and Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Kingston, Eric Khant.The two-day symposium, which is being organised by the USAID-funded Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate cHange II (Ja REEACH II) project in collaboration with the Ministry, is being held under the theme ‘Growing Agriculture and Incomes in the Face of Climate Change’.

10 years ago Agriculture

Agro Parks to be Expanded

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the agro park concept will be expanded across the length and breadth of the island. Currently, there are nine parks in operation, and the Minister said he would like to see the number grow. “When I speak of an agro park, I’m speaking of a defined area where all...

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence, delivers the keynote address on behalf of portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, at the launch of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Preferred Farmers’ Programme in rural St. Andrew on Thursday (September 8).

10 years ago AgricultureCommerce

Work Advanced on Legislation for Cess on Imported Coffee

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, is reporting that work is advanced for the application of a cess on all imported coffee. Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dermon Spence, said that most of the legislative work to facilitate the move has been completed. He was delivering a speech on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, at...

Founder of the Rakul Enterprises School of Education and Technology (RESET), Dr. Raghavan Ramamoorthy, speaks with Business Development Officer at the National Commercial Bank (NCB), Damion Sibbles (left), and Social Officer, Integrated Community Development Project, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Shunelle Nevers. Occasion was the staging of an ornamental fish farming workshop on Friday (September 2), at RESET’s offices, 13 Lower Sandringham Avenue, Kingston 10.

10 years ago AgricultureYouth

At-Risk Youth Trained in Ornamental Fish Farming

Ten young people from the communities of Majesty Gardens, Greenwich Farm and Caribbean Palms Estate in St. Andrew have benefited from training in ornamental fish farming. The training was organised by Rakul Enterprises School of Education and Technology (RESET) in collaboration with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation. The one-day session, held on...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (centre), closely examines fibre optic cable at CB Cabling Technologies’ display booth, while Director of Technical Services at the company, Clarence Blake, explains its use. Occasion was the closing ceremony of the 2016 Scotiabank Vision Achiever Programme held at Scotiabank Corporate Learning Centre in Kingston on August 31. At right is Vice President for Marketing, Scotiabank Jamaica, Yanique Forbes.

10 years ago AgricultureCommerce

Samuda Calls for Lowering of Interest Rates on MSME Loans

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, is calling for banks to lower interest rates to single digit, in order to boost production and growth within the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. He cited agriculture as one sector which cannot grow with an interest rate that exceeds four per cent. Minister Samuda noted that 97...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), and Programme Director for the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP), Petronia Colley, listen attentively to a presentation at the two-day training seminar on ‘Farm Enterprise Management’, held at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall hotel, Montego Bay, St. James, on August 29.

10 years ago Agriculture

Jamaican Producers Benefit from Globalisation – Head of the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP)

Director of the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP), Petronia Colley, says globalisation and expanding international trade have made it easier for Jamaican producers to find an opening in emerging markets overseas. Ms. Colley, who was speaking at the two-day training seminar on ‘Farm Enterprise Management’, at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall hotel, St. James, on August 29, said it is important...