Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government intends to do more to safeguard the country’s territorial waters against poaching. He noted that Jamaica loses approximately US$10 million annually due to illegal fishing. He said the fishing jurisdiction is an important zone that, if properly protected and tapped into, can contribute significantly to the country’s growth and development....

The Northern Caribbean University (NCU) will be offering degree and diploma programmes in agriculture starting August 2016. The announcement was made by Dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at NCU, Vincent Wright, during his address at the Farm Up Jamaica Limited (FUJL) press briefing held at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ Old Hope Road...

The banana industry is rebounding and generating employment in the parishes of St. James, Portland and St. Mary. According to Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, strategies implemented by the Banana Board resulted in the production of 55,000 tonnes of the fruit in 2015, a three per cent increase over the...

Farm Up Jamaica Limited (FUJL) has been endorsed as one of the projects that will transform agriculture in Jamaica, by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson. The non-profit project has been established by the Jamaican Diaspora to assist local farmers to cultivate organic food and increase the country’s food exports, while...

The Government is seeking to forge a partnership with local entity Caribbean Cable Company (CCC), to source tools and equipment for small farmers. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says harrows, ploughs and rotavators, which are used to prepare land for cultivation, are among the implements being sought. Mr. Hutchinson indicated...

Introductory Remarks  Speaker, it is my task today to close the Sectoral Debate for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017, and the first for this new administration. I am, indeed, honoured to do so. On behalf of the Government, I applaud everyone who took the time and effort to make a meaningful contribution to the Debate. While we won’t be able to...

Some $800 million will be spent to rehabilitate 80 kilometres of cane roads in sugar-producing parishes, under the Sugar Transformation Programme. This was disclosed by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, as he closed the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 12. The works will be undertaken in St. Thomas, Hanover, St....