The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, are actively working to preserve the country’s global standing as a premier producer of high-quality cocoa. This is in response to the ongoing threat posed by frosty pod disease, which was first discovered on the island in...

Farmers and agricultural stakeholders across Jamaica will receive financial literacy and business management training in the second phase of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Financial Literacy and Inclusion Training Programme. The initiative, being implemented in partnership with the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), aims to enhance the financial capacity of agricultural sector stakeholders by equipping farmers with the knowledge...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has recommended that cocoa farmers with fields susceptible to frosty pod disease mitigate the threat and preserve quality by introducing disease-tolerant varieties of the crop. Director of Project Management and Coordination at RADA, Dwayne Henry, told JIS News in an interview that this aims to ensure the sustainability and profitability of cocoa farming in...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has reported a positive response from cocoa farmers across Jamaica to newly introduced techniques aimed at combating the frosty pod rot disease. These techniques, which include top grafting and basal grafting, have proven instrumental in enhancing the resilience of cocoa fields against the disease. Director of Project Management and Coordination at RADA, Dwayne Henry,...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is optimistic about the future of Jamaica's cocoa industry, despite the challenges posed by the frosty pod rot disease. Through continued efforts and active farmer involvement, RADA envisions a resilient and thriving cocoa sector. Director of Project Management and Coordination at RADA, Dwayne Henry, emphasised to JIS News the importance of stakeholder synergy in...

The National Irrigation Commission (NIC) is urging residents in farming communities to safeguard the open canal systems and irrigation equipment installed islandwide to support farmers. Public Relations Specialist at the NIC, Christeen Forbes, reports that the agency has received complaints of individuals obstructing canals and dumping garbage into the water systems. “In St. Catherine and Clarendon, we serve a lot...

Jamaica’s agriculture sector recorded second quarter 2025 calendar year growth in production of 13.7 per cent, according to Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green. He made the disclosure while championing the sector’s resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which severely impacted the southern region of the island. “Normally, after an event like Hurricane Beryl, you would...