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Director of Taxation Policy in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ian Scarlett, explains Government’s Economic Reform Programme to residents of St. Elizabeth, at a Town Hall meeting held on Wednesday (Sept. 24), at the new public park in Black River.

Tourism-Agriculture Link To Create Jobs

The Government is targeting an employment boom from the strengthening of linkages between agriculture and tourism. Director of Taxation Policy in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ian Scarlett, said that Government is looking to capitalise on the continued growth...

Regional Director, Ministry of Education Region 3, Maxine Headlam (right), receives a Ma’afala breadfruit plant from Director of the Trees That Feed Foundation, Cathy Lyn (left). Occasion was the national launch of the Trees That Feed in Schools programme on Friday (September 19), at the Ocho Rios High School, St. Ann.

Thousands of Breadfruit Trees to be Planted in Schools

Chief Technical Director in that Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence (left), presents a certificate to St. Elizabeth farmer, Simon Bent, at the graduation ceremony for participants in the Beet Armyworm Integrated Pest Management course, held on Thursday, September 11, at the Junction Guest House in the parish.

St. Elizabeth Farmers Trained to Combat Beet Armyworm

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, tries out a bamboo chair on display at the recent Denbigh Agricultural Industrial and Food Show in Clarendon. Looking on is President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant.

Jamaica Embarks On Commercial Bamboo Production

Acting Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right) cuts the ribbon to signify the official opening of the Bethel Town Sorrel Processing Plant in Westmoreland on Thursday (August 28). Others (from left) are: Member of Parliament for Eastern Westmoreland, Luther Buchanan; and Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Scarlette Gillings.

$27.8 Million Sorrel Processing Plant Opens in Bethel Town

12 years ago Agriculture

Farmers Urged to Protect Pigs Against PEDv

Local farmers are being urged to safeguard their pigs against the deadly Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea Virus (PEDv), by President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jamaica Broilers Group, Chris Levy. The virus was first diagnosed in the United States in April, 2013. Since then, it has spread to 30 states and is responsible for more than seven million deaths in piglets. PEDv...

12 years ago Agriculture

Pig Farmers Hailed for Creating Self-Sufficient Pork Industry

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dervan Spence, has lauded local pig farmers for creating a “self-sufficient pork industry”. Mr. Spence, who was speaking at the 12th annual general meeting of the Jamaica Pig Farmers Association (JPFA), held on Thursday (September 25), at the Golf View hotel in Mandeville, said Jamaica produces nearly 10 million kilograms...

12 years ago Agriculture

All Animals will be tagged

Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dervan Spence, has informed that under the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS), all animals, including pigs, sheep and goats, will be tagged. Mr. Spence said that while much attention has been placed on the tagging of cattle as part of efforts to combat praedial larceny, all animals will eventually be...

12 years ago Agriculture

Jamaicans Encouraged to Plant Fruit Trees

Senior Research Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Adrian Burke, is encouraging more Jamaicans to get into the business of planting fruit trees. “They are a very good economic source of revenue, and they are also very nutritious,” he stated. Dr. Burke was addressing the recent launch of the ‘Trees That Feed in Schools’ project at the...

12 years ago AgricultureEducation

Government Promoting Increased Production of Nutritious Foods

Acting Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says the Government is promoting increased production of nutritious foods through initiatives such as the agro-parks programme. The move, he said, is in keeping with efforts to ensure the country’s food and nutrition security. The Minister was addressing the recent launch of the Government’s Inter-Ministerial Integrated School Feeding Programme at the Planning...

12 years ago Agriculture

Beet Armyworm Infestation Falls to Under Five Per Cent

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting that the Beet Armyworm infestation, that has been plaguing St Elizabeth, has declined to less than five per cent in cultivations still affected by the pest. Acting Deputy Director of the Crop and Plant Protection Unit in the Ministry’s Research and Development Division, Michelle Sherwood, says this decline results from extensive field...

12 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry to Boost Production at Agro Parks, Greenhouses

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is looking to ramp up production at the agro parks, and increase greenhouse farming and aquaculture, as part of measures to combat drought and reduce food imports. Acting Portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, stated that the agro parks still have additional lands to be engaged, “and we are working assiduously with our farmers in...