The Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit (PLPU) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting a 14 per cent decrease in praedial larceny cases and farm theft, since the unit began operating in March. Head of the eight-month-old unit, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kevin Francis, said that to date they have prosecuted 133 offences, which include larceny of cattle, receiving...

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says poverty in most rural communities has dropped, as a result of increased earnings from agriculture. Addressing a World Food Day ceremony at the Maud McLeod High School in Darliston, Westmoreland, on October 16, Mr. Kellier said there is clear evidence that in spite of the challenges which continue to...

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, is urging young persons to view agriculture as a career path of choice, as it is a viable income earner that can help change lives. He noted that relevant strategies have been deployed to put the sector on a path of growth and that the time is now ripe for...

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant, has hailed the ‘Eat Jamaican’ campaign for helping to reduce  the country’s food import bill. “If we did not have the ‘Eat Jamaican’ campaign, our food bill could be US$1.5 billion. The campaign has managed to save Jamaica US$500 million,” Senator Grant said. The President was speaking at the celebration...

Farmers and community stakeholders are being urged to protect the resources of the National Irrigation Commission Limited (NIC) from vandalism. The call has come from Chief Executive Officer at the NIC, Dr. Mark Richards, who said the entity’s property in various communities has been tampered with, the result of which has been periods of loss of supply to customers in...

The National Irrigation Commission Limited (NIC) is to spend over US$1.8 million to upgrade the irrigation system at the Hill Run Agro Park in Central St. Catherine, where farmers are engaged in commercial fish production. The project will involve civil, mechanical and electrical works, which will expand the irrigable areas to be served by the existing canal network, and result...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton, says the organisation is on a mission to revolutionise the sector with the adoption and use of new and modern technologies. Mr. Fulton said after 25 years of working with the nation’s 230,000 registered farmers, the time has come for RADA to explore new technologies with a...