The National People’s Cooperative Bank of Jamaica (NPCB) is reporting that the value of its assets increased to $4.39 billion during 2013, a 14 per cent increase on the $3.85 billion recorded in 2012. Additionally, members’ net savings and deposits grew from $2.24 billion to $2.58 billion during the period, representing a 15 per cent increase. General Manager, Curtis Barnett,...

As of June 1 this year, a cold storage facility to benefit farmers in South East St. Ann is to be re-opened in Lydford. Youth and Culture Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna, made the announcement during her contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 20. She noted that while the cold storage facility is being made...

A group of innovative youngsters from Waterford High School in St. Catherine are proposing the use of modern technology to assist in the fight against praedial larceny. The four students, Cardia Williams; Kema Anderson; Ifanie Grant; and Shenel Allen, under the guidance of their science teacher, Tera Rankine, have designed an anti-praedial larceny device, which they hope will help to...

Two properties, deemed potential agro-park sites, have been identified in St. Mary and are being explored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to determine the feasibility of their development. Located at Nonsuch and Unity, the properties, if utilized, will bring the number of established agro-parks under the Government’s US$8 million programme, to 11. Additionally, they would increase the 8,000...

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence, says the local coconut industry remains a potentially lucrative one, capable of generating significant export earnings and employment. This he says is despite the challenges the sector has encountered. He notes that based on current global market demand for a range of value-added and by-products, including: coconut shell charcoal,...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is slated to this year establish rainwater harvesting systems, at a cost of $64 million, as part of its efforts to reduce the effects of climate change on the agricultural sector. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the allocation will also fund training for the farmers and other sector stakeholders in smart agricultural practices,...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will shortly embark on a programme aimed at increasing and safeguarding the export of Jamaica’s non-traditional agricultural produce and products. The programme, which will target local farmers and exporters, aims to create an export platform framework that facilitates exchange between suppliers and purchasers in Jamaica and overseas. This is to be achieved through, among...