Latest

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon Derrick Kellier (right) is assisted by Minister of Education, the Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (2nd left) as he cuts the ribbon to officially open the Falmouth Infant School Library on Friday May 15. Also participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony are Chairman of the Jamaica Library Service, Paul Lalor (left) and students of the school. The facility was provided for under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Sugar Transformation Programme which is being implemented throughout the sugar dependent communities of Jamaica.

Residents of Trelawny to Benefit from Two New Libraries

Residents of two towns in the parish of Trelawny are now enjoying new library facilities valued at $26.8 million from funds acquired under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’, Sugar Transformation Programme (STP). The Falmouth Infant School Library ($8.8 million)...

Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right); and Permanent Secretary, Donovan Stanberry (centre), are presented with a drone by head of Jamaica Robotics and Avionics Design Group, Horace Cunningham. The presentation was made during a media briefing on Thursday (May 14), at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens headquarters, to provide an update on the Ministry’s just concluded pilot project for the use of drones in monitoring fishing activities.

Agriculture Ministry to Acquire More Drones to Combat Illicit Fishing

Extension Officer at the Banana Board, Henry Graham (right), accepts an application from Seven Rivers farmer, Karen Kellier (3rd right), for participation in the Banana Export Expansion Programme (BEEP) in St James, while other applicants wait their turn. Occasion was an investment forum held recently, at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) offices in Montego Bay, where farmers and investors were provided with details about BEEP.

Gov’t to Embark on $250 Million Banana Export Expansion Programme

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Derrick Kellier, addresses the official opening of a library at the Savanna-la-Mar Infant School in Westmoreland on Friday (May 8). During his address, Minister Kellier said the Government is committed to ensuring that the sugar industry remains viable and sustainable.

Gov’t Committed to Ensuring Viability of Sugar Industry – Kellier

Director of Technical Assistance at Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (Ja REEACH) project , Dianne Dormer, addresses a farmers seminar on Agrometeorology, held at the Savanna-la-Mar United Church Hall in Westmoreland, today (May 12). The seminar was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with support from the National Meteorological Service.

Westmoreland Farmers Take Part in Agrometeorology Seminar

11 years ago Agriculture

Beekeeping Industry Could Earn $1 Billion in 2015

The Ministry of Agriculture is projecting that Jamaica’s beekeeping industry will generate an estimated $1 billion in earnings from honey production in 2015. This would be more than double the $450.5 million earned from the nearly 188,000 gallons of honey produced in 2014. The projection was given by Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Luther Buchanan, at the graduation...

11 years ago Agriculture

Training for Farmers in Environment Friendly Practices

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be implementing a programme to train farmers and other stakeholders in environmentally friendly cultivation practices by September 30, 2015. “We will be establishing 10 hectares of green cane harvesting demonstration plots that incorporates three trash management options. These plots will be used to train our farmers in environment-friendly cane farming practices,” Portfolio Minister...

11 years ago Agriculture

Training for Farmers in Environment Friendly Practices

11 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry to Work with CIB to Replant Coffee Trees

The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), will be working with the Coffee Industry Board (CIB) to ensure the replanting of coffee plants in the Blue Mountain region damaged by recent fires. In a Statement to the House of Representatives on May 12, portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, said the Ministry has already identified...

11 years ago Agriculture

Gov’t Committed to Ensuring Viability of Sugar Industry – Kellier

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says the Government is committed to ensuring that the sugar industry remains viable and sustainable, as it is the life blood of many rural communities in Jamaica. “Come 2017, the industry stands to be impacted by the removal of duty-free access to the European market. In spite of this, we remain confident that...

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (2nd left), emphasises a point during conversation with State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Luther Buchanan (2nd right); Executive Director of the Oracabessa Foundation, Jon Gosse (right); and Executive Director at the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Clyde Harrison. Occasion was a boat tour of the Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary in St. Mary on May 7.

11 years ago Agriculture

Four More Fish Sanctuaries to be Established

Four additional fish sanctuaries will be established this financial year, as Government continues to put measures in place to protect and sustain the island’s fishing industry. This will bring to 18, the number of sanctuaries across the island, with 14 already in operation. Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, made the disclosure during a meeting with...

11 years ago AgricultureNational Security

Praedial Larceny Unit to Increase Engagement with Farmers

The recently established Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit will be increasing engagement with the farming community as it works to tackle the scourge of praedial larceny, which is costing the agricultural sector some $6 billion annually. “Information sharing is…critical to the success of the unit. We need to share information and communicate effectively with farmers,” said Sergeant Damian Harry, who is...