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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. — 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.

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...

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, the Hon. Derrick Kellier, addresses the launch of Farmers’ Month and the 120th Anniversary Celebrations of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), held today (April 8), at the JAS’ headquarters downtown Kingston.

High Int’l Demand for Local Produce

State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson (left), signs agreement on April 2, in Rose Hill, Manchester, for the establishment of a hi-tech greenhouse project in the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth, and St. Ann, funded by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) - $153 million, and the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), $54 million. Also signing (from second left) are: Managing Director for JSIF, Omar Sweeney; Executive Director at JBI, Parris Lyew-Ayee, and Member of Parliament for South Manchester, Hon. Michael Peart.

Farmers to Benefit from Major Greenhouse Project

Wife of the Governor-General, Her Excellency, the Most Hon. Lady Allen (4th right), and Chairman, Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Senator Norman Grant (6th left), cut the clubs’ 75th anniversary commemorative cake, during Wednesday’s (April 1) launch of activities marking 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 (3rd left); and members of 4-H Clubs across Kingston and St. Andrew.

Land Set Aside in Agro-Parks for Young People

Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (2nd right); and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Argentina, in Jamaica, Juan Nuñez (right), are shown product samples by Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) President, Marjory Kennedy (3rd left), at the JEA’s Breakfast Forum, held today (March 31), in Kingston, under the theme: ‘Building Export Markets in the Agro-Industry’. Mr. Kellier was the guest speaker. Also observing is JEA Vice President, Stephen Dawkins.

Divestment of Commercial Assets in Cocoa Industry Far Advanced

Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right), listens keenly to a point being made by General Manager, Jamaica Cane Product Sales Limited, Karl James (left), at Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) Breakfast Forum, held at the organization’s Winchester Road head office in Kingston, on March 31, under the theme: ‘Building Export Markets in the Agro-Industry’. Mr. Kellier was the guest speaker. Also listening are: JEA Vice President, Stephen Dawkins (2nd left), and President, Marjory Kennedy.

11 years ago Agriculture

Agro-Parks Will Enhance Country’s Competitiveness – Minister Kellier

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon Derrick Kellier, says the Government’s agro-park programme is being maximized to enhance Jamaica’s global competitiveness in the production and exportation of non-traditional produce. He says the move to this end includes Global GAP certification of the nine agro-parks currently in operation. GAP is an acronym for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), and Global GAP, as an...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Labour and Social Security, the Hon. Derrick Kellier.

11 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Cautions against Importing Pork

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, has cautioned consumers and stakeholders in the food industry, not to panic in the face of the reported shortages in the pork industry and to resist the urge for imported alternatives. “I wish to refer to the current situation as it relates to the reported shortages in the pork industry....

Country Representative for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Theresa Tuner-Jones, addressing the launch of COK Solidarity Co-operative Credit Union Micro Finance Unit, in St. Andrew, on Wednesday (March 25).

11 years ago Agriculture

Farmers Progressing Well At New Forrest/Duff House Agro Park

Farmers at the New Forrest/Duff House Agro Park, on the boarder of Manchester and St. Elizabeth, are progressing well according to Country Representative for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Theresa Tuner-Jones. The IDB official said she visited the farm on Tuesday March 24, and was impressed with the “transformation” that is taking place, with 300 women working, and the St....

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Securities, Hon.
Derrick Kellier, (Right) presents a cheque valued at $27 million representing government

11 years ago Agriculture

Ninth Agro Park Launched At Sweet River Abattoir

The Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security on Thursday, March 26, launched its 9th agro-park at the Sweet River multi-species Abattoir in Ferris Westmoreland. The project which is near completion has been established under the Public Private Partnership model at a cost of $292 million and is expected to result in foreign exchange savings of up to US$9 million...

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Securities, Hon.
Derrick Kellier (second right) along with (from second left) Permanent
Secretary in Agriculture Ministry, Donovan Stanberry, Minister of State in
the Ministry of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Luther
Buchanan and Minister of Tourism and Entertainment and Member of Parliamewnt
for Western Westmoreland Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeil examine the water source
for the Bath Mountain to Bleauwerie Water Supply Project on March 26. The
project is aimed at supplying over 205 families with reliable water source
at a cost of approximately $26.8 million.

11 years ago Agriculture

Bath Mountain to Bleauwerie Water Supply Project Launched

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, on March 26, officially launched the Bath Mountain to Bleauwerie Water Supply Project in Westmoreland. It is expected that some 205 families/households across the western areas of Westmoreland are to benefit from the initiative which is being funded through the Sugar Transformation Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,...

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right), addresses the launch of the International Year of Soils 2015, held on March 25, at the Ministry in Kingston. Listening are State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Luther Buchanan (2nd right); Chairman of the Soil Health Steering Committee and owner of Richmond Farms Limited, Mark Brooks (2nd left); and Communications Consultant at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Shanoy Coombs.

11 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry Embarks On Yearlong Soil Health Programme

The Ministry of Agriculture is embarking on a yearlong project aimed at improving the country’s soil health. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, made the disclosure during the launch of the International Year of Soils 2015 held on Wednesday (March 25), at the Ministry in Kingston. The aim is to address the problem of degrading soil quality in Jamaica, which is...

State Minister for Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Luther Buchanan (right), shares a light moment with (from left): Regional Representative, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International (CABI) Naitram Ramnanan; Global Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, CABI, Dr. Abdillahi Alawy; Chief Technical Director, Agriculture Ministry, Dermon Spence; and Permanent Secretary, Donovan Stanberry. Occasion was the official launch of the Plantwise programme at the Knutsford Court in New Kingston on March 24. Plantwise is a programme which is being co-ordinated by the CABI which works to strengthen national plant health systems.

11 years ago Agriculture

Plant Health Clinics to Be Established

Several plant health clinics are to be established across the island, as the Government ramps up efforts to address the issue of pests and diseases affecting crops. The initiative comes under the newly launched Plantwise, which is being co-ordinated by the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International (CABI). Twenty plant doctors are to be trained in the management of the clinics and...