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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (centre), shares a light moment with Head of the European Union Delegation, Ambassador Paola Amadei (left) and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry, at the handing over of housing units to sugar workers of Trelawny. The ceremony was held in Spicy Hill, on February 6.

Yam Farmers Urged to Capitalise on Diaspora Market

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, says farmers in Trelawny should capitalize on the economic possibilities of increased yam production, as a large market currently exists in the Diaspora for the product. “The parish of Trelawny has long...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (right); Permanent Secretary in that Ministry, Donovan Stanberry (centre); and Chief Executive Officer of Supreme Quality Exports,Victor Wright (discuss the company’s operations on Friday February 7, during a tour of the packaging house by Mr. Clarke and Ministry officials.

MOA Helping Food Exporters to Improve Operations

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, addresses a ceremony for the handing over of new homes to sugar workers in Steelfield (Spicy Hill) Trelawny on February 6. Some 39 sugar workers benefited under the project, which comes under the European Union-funded Sugar Barracks Relocation project.

Government to Spend $2.4 Billion in Sugar-Dependent Parishes

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (at podium), addresses members of the Diplomatic Corps, at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston, on February 5, as part of activities for Diplomatic Week 2014.

Policy on Organic Agriculture Being Drafted

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant (left) and Executive Director of Food For the Poor (FFP), Mrs. Jacqueline Johnson (right), sign agreement for the provision of red peas by the FFP to support the JAS red peas planting project, and to reduce importation of the commodity. Looking (from left, standing) are: First Vice President of the JAS, Donald Berry; Second Vice President, Royston Johnson; Agriculture and Fishing Manager, FFP, Selena Ledgister Kellier, and Senior Director, Recipient Services, FFP, Ron Burgess.

More Red Peas for Planting

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, looks at yam on display at Choice Packers and Belle Tropicals, in Manchester, recently.

12 years ago Agriculture

Exporters to Pay More for Yam

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, has successfully mediated between yam farmers and exporters for a price increase, with the farmers to receive $40 per pound, up from the previous $35. “The exporters have decided that they will pay forty dollars, for now, and the farmers who were at the meeting seemed satisfied,” the Minister told JIS News,...

12 years ago Agriculture

Government Spends $3 Billion on Irrigation Facilities

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller says Government has spent well over $3 billion to install modern irrigation facilities in support of sustainable agricultural production in the country. She noted that in 1998 when the National Irrigation Development Plan (NIDP) was developed, there was a consciousness that irrigation must play a critical role in lifting agricultural production and...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (centre), participates in the ribbon cutting exercise at the official commissioning of the Yallahs Irrigation System and launch of the Yallahs Agro Park in St. Thomas, on January 23. Also participating are (from left); Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke; President, Jamaica Agricultural Society, Senator Norman Grant; Chairman, National Irrigation Commission (NIC), Dr. Conrad Douglas; and Member of Parliament, Western St. Thomas, James Robertson.

12 years ago AgriculturePrime Minister

PM Opens $395 Million Irrigation Facility in Yallahs and Launches Agro Park

Farmers in Yallahs, St. Thomas, are benefitting from a $395 million irrigation facility, which was officially commissioned into service on January 23, by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller. The Prime Minister also officially launched the Yallahs Agro Park, which has already started with 22 acres of onion under production, with a marketing contract in place for the...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Hon. Roger Clarke (second left) and Chairman, All Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association (AIJCFA), Allan Rickards (left), break ground for the construction of a new headquarters for the Association at Innswood, St. Catherine, on January 22. Looking on (from right) are: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company, Dr. Huaixiang Wu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry and Executive Chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority, Ambassador Derrick Heaven.

12 years ago Agriculture

AIJCFA Breaks Ground For New Headquarters

Ground was broken at Innswood, St. Catherine, on Wednesday, January 22, for the construction of a new headquarters for the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers’ Association (AIJCFA). This is in keeping with the modernisation of the sugar industry and forms part of the rebranding and restructuring of the Association. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, who spoke at the...

12 years ago Agriculture

Govt Urged to Speed up Development of Bamboo Industry

The Government is being urged to accelerate the development of a local bamboo industry to tap into the lucrative global market for the environmentally-friendly product, which is estimated to reach US$20 billion by 2015. Senator Norman Grant, who made the call in the Senate yesterday (January 17), said that this should be done through a mix of policy initiatives, farmer...

12 years ago Agriculture

House Committee Proposes Strengthening of Praedial Larceny Law

Persons found in possession of agricultural produce, for which they have no receipt or invoice, may face hefty fines if recommendations put forward by the Economy and Production Committee of Parliament for the strengthening the praedial larceny law are adopted. At a meeting at Gordon House on January 14, committee member, Daryl Vaz, noted that currently, the end user is...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (centre), addresses the signing ceremony for an agreement between the All Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association and Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company to authorise the sale of sugar and molasses, and establish a pricing regime. The ceremony was held on January 15 at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices. Also participating are: Chairman of the All Island Jamaica Cane Farmers’ Association, Allan Rickards (left) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pan-Caribbean, Dr. Huaixiang Wu.

12 years ago Agriculture

Monymusk and Frome Sugar Factories to be Upgraded

Pan-Caribbean Limited, operators of the Monymusk and Frome sugar factories, has announced plans to pump some US$180 million to US$200 million into enhancing the plants, and upgrading equipment at the two facilities. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pan-Caribbean, Dr. Huaixiang Wu, made the announcement on January 15, as he addressed a signing ceremony with the All Island Cane Farmers Association...