Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, has again called for greater youth participation in agriculture, while reiterating Government’s commitment to facilitating entrepreneurial activities in the sector. “Given the youth’s willingness to adapt to new ideas, concepts and technology, it goes without saying that the future of agriculture in Jamaica resides with our young people,” the Minister said. He...

A total of $110 million has been allocated in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure for the European Development Fund (EDF) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Capacity Building Project. The project aims to contribute to facilitating increased and more diversified exports of agricultural and agro-processed products to the European Union (EU) market. As of February 2014, equipment was procured for laboratories at...

The Government has allocated $3.1 million in the 2014/2015 Estimates of Expenditure for the Wind Powered Irrigation Feasibility Assessment Project. The Estimates of Expenditure are to be considered by the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament from April 8 to 10. The objectives of the project are to conduct a wind assessment in the Pedro Plains area of St. Elizabeth by...

An allocation of $30.6 million has been made in the 2014/15 budget, to upgrade several of the island’s abattoirs, under the Diversification of the Caribbean Livestock through the Production of Small Ruminants project. The project’s goal is to contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in regional meat consumption, initially through the development of the small ruminant industry; increase the availability of quality...

Government has allocated $64.9 million towards enhancing the resilience of the country’s agricultural sector and coastal areas. This is set out in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project, which is being financed through the Adaptation Fund and the Government, is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Its goal is to...

Small farmers and tourism projects in rural Jamaica will receive a boost of $350 million this fiscal year, under the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI). The funds have been set aside in the Government’s proposed budget for 2014/15. The project, which began in January 2010, aims to improve market access for micro and small-scale rural agricultural producers, and tourism projects....

An additional $1.8 billion is being provided by the Government, this year, to continue implementation of the Sugar Transformation Project. This allocation is contained in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, has three major components. These are: strengthening the sugar cane sector’s commercial competitiveness;...

Just over $300 million is budgeted to be spent this year on the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Agricultural Competitiveness Programme. The project aims to increase competitiveness in the agriculture sector by facilitating small and medium farmers’ access to markets; ensuring the production of safe and high quality food and products; and stimulating public-private investment in agribusiness value chain development....