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Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right), is greeted by Deputy Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Jeannette Vail, just before the start of a climate smart agriculture symposium at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston today (July 16).
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right), is greeted by Deputy Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Jeannette Vail, just before the start of a climate smart agriculture symposium at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston today (July 16).

Five-Year Climate Change Plan Being Developed For Agricultural Sector

A five-year climate change plan is being crafted for the country’s agriculture sector, which is intended to strengthen the sector’s resilience to weather-related impacts such as droughts, tropical storms and hurricanes. The Climate Change Strategy and Plan (CCSAP) is being...
Managing Director of Technological Solutions Limited, Dr. André Gordon (seated), autographs his book - ‘Food Safety and Quality Systems in Developing Countries, Volume 1: Export Challenges and Implementation Strategies for Food Safety’ - for Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Anthony Hylton (third left). Waiting to have their books signed at the launch, held at Jamaica Exporters’ Association headquarters on Winchester Road, in Kingston, on July 15, are (from left): President of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association, Marjory Kennedy and Agriculture Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier.
Managing Director of Technological Solutions Limited, Dr. André Gordon (seated), autographs his book - ‘Food Safety and Quality Systems in Developing Countries, Volume 1: Export Challenges and Implementation Strategies for Food Safety’ - for Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Anthony Hylton (third left). Waiting to have their books signed at the launch, held at Jamaica Exporters’ Association headquarters on Winchester Road, in Kingston, on July 15, are (from left): President of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association, Marjory Kennedy and Agriculture Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier.

Agriculture Minister Reiterates Importance of Food Security
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (2nd left), converses with Chairman of the Coffee Industry Board (CIB), Delano Franklyn (left), during a tour of communities in St. Thomas, which have been affected by recent bush fires. Others on the tour (from left) are: Training Coordinator at the CIB, Seiveright Dixon; Chief Executive Officer at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton; and Member of Parliament for Western St. Thomas, James Robertson.
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (2nd left), converses with Chairman of the Coffee Industry Board (CIB), Delano Franklyn (left), during a tour of communities in St. Thomas, which have been affected by recent bush fires. Others on the tour (from left) are: Training Coordinator at the CIB, Seiveright Dixon; Chief Executive Officer at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton; and Member of Parliament for Western St. Thomas, James Robertson.

Gov’t to Aid Fire-Affected Farmers in St. Thomas
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (left), greets Head of Cooperation at the European Commission, Jesus Orus Baguena, at the ground breaking ceremony in Braes River, St. Elizabeth, on July 9, for the rehabilitation of 14 kilometres of cane roads at a cost of $89.1 million. Money for the project has been provided by the European Union (EU), through the Sugar Transformation Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (left), greets Head of Cooperation at the European Commission, Jesus Orus Baguena, at the ground breaking ceremony in Braes River, St. Elizabeth, on July 9, for the rehabilitation of 14 kilometres of cane roads at a cost of $89.1 million. Money for the project has been provided by the European Union (EU), through the Sugar Transformation Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Refined Sugar Cess To Fund Transformation – Minister Kellier
Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (left), and Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) President, Senator Norman Grant, peruse an application form for the farm work component of the Government’s Overseas Employment Programme, during the JAS’ 120th Annual General Meeting (AGM), at the Denbigh showground, in May Pen, Clarendon, on July 8.
Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (left), and Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) President, Senator Norman Grant, peruse an application form for the farm work component of the Government’s Overseas Employment Programme, during the JAS’ 120th Annual General Meeting (AGM), at the Denbigh showground, in May Pen, Clarendon, on July 8.

JAS to Restructure Training Programme at Denbigh

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President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant, highlights plans for the 63rd staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, during a recent JIS Think Tank. (FILE)
Agriculture

JAS Reports $443 Million in Net Assets

The Jamaica Agricultural Society’s (JAS) net assets grew by 20 per cent over the last 12 years, to value $443 million at the end of the entity’s 2014/15 financial year on March 31. This figure, according to JAS President, Senator Norman Grant, represents an average annual growth of approximately 1.7 per cent on the asset base, which stood at $370...
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Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Luther Buchanan, addresses the 62nd Annual General Meeting of the Cattle Breeders Association, held at Woodstock Farms in Ashton, Westmoreland on Thursday (July 9).
Agriculture

Govt Committed To Strengthening Livestock Sector

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Luther Buchanan, says that the Government is committed to strengthening the livestock sector, to ensure its sustainability and enhance food security for citizens. “We will therefore continue to strengthen our research and development capacity to support production, by providing genetic material, and enhance multiplication techniques for herd...
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Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right), congratulates Senator Norman Grant, who was returned as President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), at the association’s 120th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently, at the Denbigh showground in May Pen, Clarendon. Looking on in the background is 2014 National Farm Queen, Tishauna Mullings.
Agriculture

Minister Kellier Hails Country’s Farmers

Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, has lauded the contribution of Jamaica’s over 220,000 farmers to significantly reducing the country’s food import bill by approximately $5 billion (US$43.6 million) in 2014. This figure, he said, represents a 4.5 per cent decline over 2013, and is the largest recorded since 2009. He noted that despite the challenge of...
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Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (seated 2nd right), and Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth, Raymond Pryce (seated 2nd left), affix their signatures to the contract for the rehabilitation of 8.1 kilometres of cane roads from Elim to Braes River in St. Elizabeth. The signing took place in the Elim community on Thursday, July 9. Preparing to sign are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry (seated left); and N. F. Barnes (seated right) of the construction company. Standing (from left) are Head of Delegation of the European Union, Jesus Orus Baguena; Project Engineer at the Sugar Transformation Unit (STU), Milton Hodlin; and Head of the STU, Keleen Grandison.
Agriculture

Gov’t Allocates $800 Million for Rehabilitation of Cane Roads

Some 80 kilometres of cane roads in the island’s six sugar-producing parishes are to be refurbished this financial year at a cost of $800 million. The works, being funded by the European Union (EU) through the Sugar Transformation Unit (STU), are to be undertaken in St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland and Trelawny. Minister of Agriculture, Labour and...
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Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (2nd left), shakes hands with St. Elizabeth farmer, Donna-Ree Hutchinson, after presenting her with a water tank yesterday (July 9), during a function held at the Santa Cruz offices of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). Over 30 tanks were handed over to farmers affected by the drought conditions. Sharing the occasion (from left) are: Member of Parliament for North West St. Elizabeth , JC. Hutchinson; Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth, Raymond Pryce; Chief Executive Officer of RADA, Lenworth Funton; and Member of Parliament for South East St. Elizabeth, Richard Parchment
Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Hands Over 30 Water Tanks to St. Elizabeth Farmers

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, on Thursday (July 9), handed over 40 water tanks to farmers in St. Elizabeth. The donation forms part of Government’s drought mitigation strategy, in which some 300 tanks, at a cost of $5 million, will be presented to farmers in drought-affected areas across the island. “This is the first phase...
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Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (centre), is welcomed to the podium by Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) President, Senator Norman Grant (left), to deliver the keynote address at the association’s 120th Annual General Meeting (AGM), at Denbigh showground, in May Pen, Clarendon, on July 8. Looking on at right is 2014 National Farm Queen, Tishauna Mullings.
Agriculture

JAS Registered Farmers to Benefit More from Overseas Farm Work Programme

Farmers registered with the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) now have a greater opportunity to participate in the Government’s overseas farm work programme in the United States and Canada. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which administers the Overseas Employment Programme, has partnered with the JAS, which is designated an accredited organization, to select and recommend farmers, aged 21 to...
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Agriculture

More Than 250 Exhibitors for Denbigh

More than 250 exhibitors are expected to participate in the three-day Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, being staged by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, at the Denbigh Showground, Clarendon, from July 31 to August 2. “We are expecting a fantastic show over the three days,” JAS President and Chairman of...
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