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Food Import Bill Down

Preliminary data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) indicates that the country’s food import bill declined by $5.014 billion (US$43.6 million) last year, representing a 4.5 per cent reduction over the corresponding period in 2013. This represents the largest...

Wife of the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Lady Allen (right), is assisted by Chairman, Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Senator Norman Grant, to cut the organization’s 75th anniversary commemorative cake, during the recent launch of activities to mark the celebrations, at the agency’s Old Hope Road head office, in St. Andrew. Lady Allen is Patron of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Among those sharing the occasion are: Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon, Derrick Kellier (centre); Youth and Culture Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna (left), who brought greetings; and members of 4-H Clubs across Kingston and St. Andrew.

4-H Movement Celebrates Significant Milestone

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (left) tours the papaya grove at Advanced Farms/Martha’s Best Papaya in Martha Brae, Trelawny on Friday (April 17), before handing over $1 million in grant assistance for improvements to the packaging house. Others from (second left) are: Director General in the Ministry, Don McGlashan; Farm Manager, John Mendez; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; General Manager of Advanced Farms, Ian Fulton; and Minister of State in the Ministry, Luther Buchanan.

Agriculture Ministry Provides Grant Assistance to Two Food Export Facilities

Programme Manager of the agriculture component of the Government of Jamaica Adaptation Fund Programme, Mr. I.W. Wilson, addresses a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’.

Agricultural Sector Benefitting from Adaptation Fund

Minister of State for Agriculture, Labour and Social Security. Hon Luther Buchanan (centre), and Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy (left), engage Membership Manager at the All Island Banana Growers’ Association, Jennerie Elliott, at the 2015 St. Mary Agri-Expo, held April 6, at the Gray’s Inn Sports Complex, in Annotto Bay.

Growth Impacting Agricultural Parishes

11 years ago Agriculture

297 Farmers Benefit from Weather Pattern Training

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...

11 years ago AgricultureBudget 2015/2016Parliament

$418 Million to be Spent on Agro-Parks

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...

11 years ago Agriculture

Anchovy High Expands School Farm

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...

11 years ago AgricultureCulture

Thousands of Youth for 4-H National Achievement Expo

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’....

11 years ago Agriculture

Public Announcement – Annual Lobster Close Season April 1 – June 30

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...

11 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Hails Jamaica 4-H Clubs

Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, has hailed the Jamaica 4-H Clubs as one of the foremost youth training institutions in the country and Caribbean. Speaking at the launch of the agency’s 75th anniversary celebrations at its head office in St. Andrew on Wednesday, April 1, Mr. Kellier said the organisation continues to provide opportunities for youngsters...

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (second left), examines a large dry coconut during a tour of the display area of the Montpelier Agricultural Show in St. James, on April 6. Others (from right) are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry; Mayor of Montego Bay and President of the St.
James Association of Branch Societies of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Glendon Harris and Zonal Director of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in Western Jamaica, Donald Robinson.

11 years ago Agriculture

Farmers Commended for Contribution to Growth of Economy

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, has commended the 230,000 farmers across Jamaica for their “sustained” contribution to the growth of the economy. Mr. Kellier said the agricultural sector continues to play a pivotal role in the employment of the country’s workforce and the “visible” reduction of Jamaica’s large food import bill. The Minister was speaking...