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Agro Parks Offer Exciting Prospects For Agriculture – Dr. Phillips

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, says the Government’s effort at reducing food imports through the agro parks project represents an “exciting prospect” for the agricultural sector. The Minister, who was speaking yesterday (October 3), while...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke (2nd right), along with (from left): Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Chief Executive Officer, Lenworth Fulton; RADA Board Chairman, Dr. Densil Williams; and Principal Director in the Ministry, Dwight Uylett, admire the Minister’s trophy, one of the prizes which will be awarded to the winner of RADA’s national parish competition, which was launched on Wednesday, September 11, at the Ministry in St. Andrew.

RADA Launches Competition to Boost Productivity

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke (2nd left), along with J. Wray and Nephew Limited executives: Human Resource Manager, Venton Brown (left); Senior Director, Agriculture Division, Ian Maxwell (centre); and Distillery Manager, Rohan Robinson (right), share pleasantries with company retiree, James Braham, one of 26 outgoing employees honoured by the firm during a special luncheon at Neil’s Auditorium, Mandeville Manchester, on Friday, September 6. Mr. Clarke was the guest speaker.

Government Reaffirms Commitment to Jamaica’s Sugar Industry

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant (left), emphasises a point while addressing a ceremony held on September 4, at the JAS’ head office in Kingston, to officially present the winners of competitions for the 2013 Denbigh Agricultural Industrial and Food Show. Listening are: National Woman Champion Farmer, and past member of the JAS board, Maria Azan; and JAS Sir Arthur Farquharson Young Champion Farmer, Nicholas Powell.

JAS to Push for Agricultural Wardens

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (2nd left), along with Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth, Raymond Pryce (right), sign a contract worth $30.3 million for rehabilitation of two cane roads in the Appleton area of St. Elizabeth, while and Director, B.F. Pavements and Consultants Limited, Donovan Bryan (2nd right), scans the document. Observing the proceedings (from left) are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; Project Engineer in the Ministry, Milton Hodelin; and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Jamaica, Jesus Orus Baguena. Eight contracts totaling just over $404 million were signed on September 3, at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens headquarters, for the rehabilitation of more than 44 kilometres of cane roads across the island.

Cane Roads to be Rehabilitated for $404 Million

13 years ago Agriculture

Hundreds Put to Work Under Farm Road Project/JEEP

Approximately 800 Jamaicans received employment opportunities through projects associated with the Farm Road Maintenance Project. The work, which was carried out through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in partnership with the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) saw a total of 68 kilometres of rural roads being rehabilitated under the project. Speaking with JIS News, Director of Corporate Planning, Monitoring and...

13 years ago Agriculture

Massive Cane Replanting Programme Underway

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has embarked on a massive cane planting and replanting exercise to expand local sugar cane production to some 1.4 million tonnes by 2018. This is being undertaken through the Cane Expansion Fund, which forms part of Government’s efforts to revitalise the sugar cane industry. Speaking to journalists recently at a press conference at the...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (right), shares a laugh with (from left), Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry; Customer Care Manager, National Housing Trust (NHT), Donetta Russell; and Principal Director in the Public Sector Modernization Division, Office of the Cabinet, Sherrill O’Reggio Angus. They were at the re-launch of the Ministry’s Citizen’s Charter, which was held on Wednesday, August 28, at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices, St. Andrew.

13 years ago AgricultureVision 2030

Agriculture Ministry Re-Launches Citizen’s Charter

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries today (August 29) re-launched its Citizen’s Charter as it seeks to improve customer service to its various stakeholders and boost agricultural production to ensure food security. The document outlines areas such as the Ministry’s vision, mission, its various stakeholders, and core values. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, in his remarks at the re-launch held...

St. Elizabeth farmer, Mervis I. Logan (right), shows off samples of her produce to Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke (left), following the Integrated Pest Management Farmer Field School graduation ceremony, held on the grounds of the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in Kingston on August 21. Looking on are (from second left): Deputy Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Jeannette Vail and Executive Director, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton.

13 years ago Agriculture

Farmers Trained to Combat Beet Armyworm

To combat the dreaded beet armyworm on local onion and escallion production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has completed the training of some 22 farmers and eight extension officers in pest management procedures. The training course comes against the background of the 2012 outbreak of the pest, which resulted in the destruction of some 45 hectares of crops valued...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (at podium) addresses attendees at a ceremony to publicly roll out the Extending Financial Services Directly to Rural Jamaican Farmers (Direct2Client) Project at the Whispering Bamboo Cove in Morant Bay, St. Thomas on Friday (August 16). The Minister was representing the Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller at the function. Pictured at the head table (from left) are: General Manager of the St. Thomas Cooperative Credit Union, Hopeton Morrison; President of the credit union, Rev. Lennox Kirby; Country Representative, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones; and Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Thomas and Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson.

13 years ago Agriculture

$48 Million Project To Assist Small Farmers

The earnings of small-scale rural farmers in St. Thomas are expected to be boosted under a US$479,000 ($48 million) pilot project. Dubbed the Extending Financial Services Directly to Rural Jamaican Farmers (Direct2Client) Project, the initiative is being implemented by the St. Thomas Cooperative Credit Union through funding by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Under the programme, farmers will gain increased...

Governor-General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (left;) gets a lesson in how the coffee grinder works from President
of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant; while Lady Allen looks on. The Governor -General was on a tour
of several booths mounted at the 61st Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show at the Denbigh Showground in May Pen,
Clarendon on August 5.

13 years ago AgricultureGovernor General

Governor General Advocates Zero Tolerance for Praedial Thieves

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, is encouraging all large scale purchasers of agricultural produce in Jamaica to support the nation's farmers by refusing to buy products for which vendors have no proof of ownership. "Supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, hospitals and other institutions must be vigilant in ensuring that they are not used by the individuals who heartlessly...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (right), and Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) President, Senator Norman Grant (centre), are shown chicks reared with feed produced by the firm, Hi-Pro, by the entity’s Senior Technical Sales Representative, Clinton Wilson, during the final day of the three-day Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in May Pen, Clarendon, on Independence Day (August 6). Prime Minister Simpson Miller viewed displays at several booths and delivered the keynote address for the day.

13 years ago Agriculture

Prime Minister Salutes Nation’s Farmers

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has hailed the island’s farmers noting that that agriculture is the “lifeblood of our existence” and a platform for sustainable rural development. The Prime Minister also pointed out that agriculture is the direct source of livelihood for thousands of Jamaicans and their families in rural communities. “It is for these reasons that...