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Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green delivers the keynote address during the recent St. Thomas Agricultural Show at the Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay.

Mechanisation Boost for St. Thomas as Agricultural Momentum Builds

With St. Thomas showing strong agricultural momentum, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, has announced mechanical support for the parish, including a new tractor and an onion harvester. Speaking recently during the parish’s agricultural show at Rudolph...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), presents farmer, Kevin Lindo, with his land title, during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Project in Short Hills, St. Elizabeth on Friday (July 11).

200 South St Elizabeth Small Farmers Get Land Titles

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, delivers remarks during the official ground-breaking and launch of the Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Project in Short Hills, St. Elizabeth on Friday (July 11).

Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Designated National Development Project

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), breaks ground for the Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Project in Short Hills, St. Elizabeth on Friday (July 11). Joining Dr. Holness (from left) are: Chairman of the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), Vitus Evans; Farmer, Tameka Daye; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining , Hon. Floyd Green; Chief Executive Officer at the NIC, Joseph Giles; State Minister in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Ministry, Hon. Franklin Witter; Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth North Eastern , Delroy Slowley; Chief Executive Officer at the National Land Agency (NLA), Cheriese Walcott; and Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill.

Ground Broken for $26 Billion Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Project

Cassava farmers in St. Thomas stand to gain from improved operational regularisation, following the announcement of land lease provisions under the newly established St. Thomas Cassava Growers Association Limited.
Speaking during the recent St. Thomas Agricultural Show in Morant Bay, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, indicated that the Sugar Company of Jamaica is working to regularise the farmers, adding that cassava growers will receive leases for the lands they cultivate, enabling them to expand their agricultural investments.
Mr. Green hailed the farmers for positioning St. Thomas as a national leader in cassava production.
“In fact, last year we harvested over 120 hectares of cassava, engaging over 180 farmers; and this is despite them having a tough year with Hurricane Beryl [and] Tropical Storm Rafael. The St. Thomas cassava farmers continue to do extremely well,” the Minister said.
Mr. Green expressed particular satisfaction with the success the farmers have achieved since forming the group.
“When we first met and they raised their issues around cassava and around land, I said to them, ‘listen, the best way to deal with these issues is to form yourselves into a group’. If you look at them now, they have not only formed themselves into a group – and I hear that some of the best female farmers are a part of that group – they have also staged their very first cassava festival, and it went extremely well,” he stated.
The inaugural St. Thomas Cassava Festival was held at the Golden Grove Sports Complex on February 28.

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Cassava Farmers…2
The event, which is poised to become an annual fixture, brought together stakeholders, cassava enthusiasts, and community members for a vibrant celebration of the beloved crop.
Minister Green also highlighted other ways in which St. Thomas has been leading in agriculture, noting that the parish is, “the biggest producer of East Indian and Julie mangoes and biggest supporter of the exportation of mangoes”.
St. Thomas is also leading in onion production, having yielded 3,396 tonnes last year – accounting for 60 per cent of Jamaica’s total output. — Cassava farmers in St. Thomas stand to gain from improved operational regularisation, following the announcement of land lease provisions under the newly established St. Thomas Cassava Growers Association Limited. Speaking during the recent St. Thomas Agricultural Show in Morant Bay, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, indicated that the Sugar Company of Jamaica is working to regularise the farmers, adding that cassava growers will receive leases for the lands they cultivate, enabling them to expand their agricultural investments. Mr. Green hailed the farmers for positioning St. Thomas as a national leader in cassava production. “In fact, last year we harvested over 120 hectares of cassava, engaging over 180 farmers; and this is despite them having a tough year with Hurricane Beryl [and] Tropical Storm Rafael. The St. Thomas cassava farmers continue to do extremely well,” the Minister said. Mr. Green expressed particular satisfaction with the success the farmers have achieved since forming the group. “When we first met and they raised their issues around cassava and around land, I said to them, ‘listen, the best way to deal with these issues is to form yourselves into a group’. If you look at them now, they have not only formed themselves into a group – and I hear that some of the best female farmers are a part of that group – they have also staged their very first cassava festival, and it went extremely well,” he stated. The inaugural St. Thomas Cassava Festival was held at the Golden Grove Sports Complex on February 28. (more) Cassava Farmers…2 The event, which is poised to become an annual fixture, brought together stakeholders, cassava enthusiasts, and community members for a vibrant celebration of the beloved crop. Minister Green also highlighted other ways in which St. Thomas has been leading in agriculture, noting that the parish is, “the biggest producer of East Indian and Julie mangoes and biggest supporter of the exportation of mangoes”. St. Thomas is also leading in onion production, having yielded 3,396 tonnes last year – accounting for 60 per cent of Jamaica’s total output.

Cassava Farmers in St. Thomas Poised for Growth with Land Lease Support

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green.

8 months ago Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Lauds Contribution of Westmoreland to Sector

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, has reaffirmed Westmoreland’s critical importance to Jamaica’s agricultural sector as the nation intensifies its focus on food security and sustainable economic growth. Addressing farmers, residents, business interests and other stakeholders at the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Agricultural Show in Little London, Westmoreland, on June 29, Minister Green praised Westmoreland’s long-standing tradition...

Director of Research and Development, Coconut Industry Board (CIB), Dr. Wayne Myrie, speaks during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the agency’s Television Department in Kingston.

8 months ago Agriculture

Coconut Farmers Urged to Practise Smart Fertilisation

The Coconut Industry Board (CIB) is encouraging farmers to adopt smart fertilisation techniques that enhance crop yields while safeguarding environmental health. Director of Research and Development, Dr. Wayne Myrie, noted that smart fertilisation remains a key focus at seminars with farming groups across the country. “In those seminars, we give information to farmers about the proper use of fertiliser… applying...

St. Ann 4-H Clubs Parish Manager, Tedroy Gordon (left), engages in an activity with Clubbites from Brown’s Town Model Infant School during the St. Ann 4-H Clubs’ Annual General Meeting and Awards Ceremony at Brown’s Town Methodist Church on June 25. In the background (from left) are 2025 parish Leader of the Year awardee, Nicolette Fisher from Runaway Bay Primary and Infant School, and Chairman of the Parish Advisory Council, Lambert Russell.

8 months ago AgricultureYouth

Jamaica 4-H Clubs Empowering Youth to Safeguard Food Security

The Jamaica 4-H Clubs is equipping youth to champion food security in the face of mounting environmental challenges. Executive Director, Peter Thompson, noted that the organisation is leveraging education as its cornerstone strategy to build youth capacity in response to environmental threats and agricultural challenges. He highlighted these efforts during the St. Ann 4-H Clubs’ Annual General Meeting and Awards...

Product Development Agronomist at Caribbean Chemicals, Nickel Dadsy, shows a product to Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Catherine Parish Manager, Ruth Barrett, during the RADA St. Catherine Parish Show, held on June 26 at Chedwin Park Cricket Ground in Old Harbour.

The event showcased RADA’s services through stakeholder exhibitions and hands-on demonstrations of agricultural best practices.

8 months ago Agriculture

Photos: RADA St. Catherine Parish Show

Product Development Agronomist at Caribbean Chemicals, Nickel Dadsy, shows a product to Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Catherine Parish Manager, Ruth Barrett, during the RADA St. Catherine Parish Show, held on June 26 at Chedwin Park Cricket Ground in Old Harbour. The event showcased RADA’s services through stakeholder exhibitions and hands-on demonstrations of agricultural best practices.

Chief Technical Director (CTD) for Special Projects in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Courtney Cole, delivers the keynote address on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, during the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Jamaica Delegation’s 50th anniversary celebration at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Friday (June 27).

9 months ago Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry Commends IIca For 50 Years Of Transformative Partnership In Jamaica

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has extended commendations to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in recognition of its 50-year partnership with Jamaica. Chief Technical Director for Special Projects in the Ministry, Courtney Cole, highlighted the IICA’s invaluable contribution since Jamaica joined the organisation in 1975, noting that its various projects and programmes have significantly improved...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, speaks in the Senate on Friday (June 27).

9 months ago AgricultureJusticeSenate

Senate Passes Tougher Praedial Larceny Law To Safeguard Farmers

The Senate, on Friday (June 27), passed amendments to the Praedial Larceny (Prevention) Act, aimed at combatting the theft of agricultural produce, livestock and fish. Piloting the Bill, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said agriculture and aquaculture are entering a new era of productivity, production and national development. “Through our new FACE...

Senior Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Livestock Specialist, Maxine Brown.

9 months ago Agriculture

RADA Ready to Assist with Recovery Efforts During Hurricane Season

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) stands ready to assist farmers to recover from any damage suffered during the current hurricane season, says Senior Livestock Specialist at the agency, Maxine Brown. Speaking in a JIS “Get the Facts” interview, Ms. Brown said that following the passage of a system, farmers who have suffered damage should reach out to the Authority...