The Government will, this year, implement several projects, valued over $1 billion, which aim to transform the lives of sugar industry workers. Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, outlined details of the engagements during his 2015/16 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, April 21, under the theme: ‘Making Jamaica’s Agriculture Sustainable’. Mr. Kellier said...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is targeting another 8,093 hectares (20,000 acres) of Government land for development into agro-parks over the next five years. The move forms part of the Ministry’s undertaking to preserve and utilise the 271,600 hectares, or 25 per cent, of Jamaica’s just over one million hectares of land, deemed suitable for agriculture. It will also...

A total of 297 farmers from five parishes have been empowered with weather pattern information through a US$100,000 grant from the Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (Ja REEACH) Project. This was under the training component of the project, involving the Meteorological Service (Met Office), the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and...

The Ministry of Agriculture is slated to spend over $418 million in 2015/16, to continue work on existing agro-parks and establish new facilities. This allocation, according to Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, will complement the $718 million spent over the past two years to develop the nine agro-parks currently in operation. He made this disclosure during...

As part of its mission to become self-sufficient in some agricultural produce and to participate fully in the Ministry of Agriculture’s ‘Eat Jamaican’ campaign, the administration at the Anchovy High School, in St. James, has expanded its school farm. The school has moved decisively into banana, poultry, rabbit and vegetable farming, with the Principal, Lambert Robinson, hoping that in a...

Thousands of young people are expected to participate in the Jamaica 4-H Clubs’ 2015 National Achievement Exposition, scheduled for April 23-24 at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon. The exposition, which is the culmination of the 14 parish achievement days, and forms part of the movement’s 75th anniversary celebrations, will be held under the theme: ‘4-H Celebrating the Past…Embracing the Future’....

The Licensing Authority of the Fisheries Division in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries wishes to advise the public that the annual Close Season for spiny lobsters commences on April 1 and ends on June 30, 2015. The Fisheries Division wishes to further advise that new Regulations governing the Close Season for spiny lobsters are in effect. These Regulations stipulate...