Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter, has assured that the Government continues to provide much needed support to farmers in Trelawny. Mr. Witter was addressing the 68th staging of the Hague Agricultural and Industrial Show, which was held in Trelawny on Wednesday (March 5). He emphasised that the Ministry remains committed to...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is encouraging interested persons to consider becoming Livestock Officers. Senior Livestock Specialist with RADA, Maxine Brown, told JIS News that currently there is only one Livestock Officer per parish. “It can be quite challenging for the one officer to try to serve all the needs of the farmers and we understand, too, that the...

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has distributed approximately 20,000 coffee seedlings to farmers as part of its coffee restoration and expansion programme. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, gave the update while addressing the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Farmers’ Trade Day held at the University of Technology’s Sangster Auditorium in Kingston on Friday (February 28). He said the...

Cabinet has given approval for ground to be broken in a few months, for the US$150-million Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, made the disclosure at the Jamaica Broilers Group Agri-Vision Forum held at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Tuesday (March 4). When completed, the facility will take water from the...

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, has outlined some of the Government’s plans to ensure growth in the agriculture sector that will satisfy the food security needs locally and in the region. He highlighted the gains the poultry industry experienced last year, despite the major setbacks caused by Hurricane Beryl and subsequent consistent rains. Mr. Green stated...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), with support from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), is working to strengthen farmer biosecurity practices, targeting 23 pig farmers per parish. In the context of agriculture, biosecurity practices involve measures taken to protect farms from the entry of disease-causing agents and/or pests, that can wipe out livestock and crops. While JSIF has provided...

Thirteen livestock officers with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) have received training to use the Langston Interactive Nutrient Calculator, (LINC). The software, developed by Oklahoma-based Langston University, aids in the analysis and comparison of forage and feed formulations, to increase the efficiency of how livestock are fed while minimising costs. Senior Livestock Officer with RADA, Maxine Brown, said the...