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Panama Disease Race 4 is No Immediate Threat to Jamaican Bananas

The Banana Board’s technical services units continue to be vigilant and resolute to prevent the entry of Panama Disease PDR4 caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f cubense and several viral diseases capable of equal devastation as the PDR4. Banana...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry.

Enough Locally Produced Food on the Market for Christmas

Their Excellencies, Governor-General the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (left) and Lady Allen (second left), converse with Farm Manager, Orange River Research Station, Zavier Gray (right), about the benefits of the island’s locally grown lemon, during a tour of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries booth at the Eat Jamaican Day exposition, at King’s House, on Monday, November 25. At third left is President, Jamaica Agricultural Society, Senator Norman Grant.

Scores Attend ‘Eat Jamaica Day’ Celebration at King’s House

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, addresses the annual general meeting of the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers’ Association held on Wednesday, November 13, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

$400 Million Being Spent on Rehabilitation of Sugarcane Roads

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke (right, foreground), examines the features of a sorrel harvesting machine developed by farmer and entrepreneur, Allison Turner (left), and husband, Oral Turner, during its unveiling at the offices of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hope Gardens, St. Andrew, on November 12.

Local Sorrel Harvesting Machine Unveiled

12 years ago AgricultureSenate

Senate Makes Provision for Exporters to Pay Conch Levy in Instalments

The Senate passed the Conch (Export Levy) (2013 Conch Season) (Special Provisions) Act 2013 on December 20, to allow exporters to complete payment of the conch export levy in instalments. The Act permits exporters to complete payment of the export levy within three months of the date of submission of the application for an export health certificate and export licence...

12 years ago Agriculture

St. Elizabeth Farmers Urged to Take Precautions Against Beet Armyworm

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is urging farmers in south St. Elizabeth to take precautionary measures against the beet armyworm, which affects escallion and onion. Reports have indicated that some fields are experiencing an unusually high beet armyworm population, due to excess production, which has seen mature crops remaining in the fields for longer periods. When this happens, pest...

12 years ago Agriculture

State Minister Crawford Urges Farmers to Diversify Production

State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, says that farmers should look to diversify production in order to satisfy various markets. He said that farmers need not concentrate solely on traditional crops, while the tourism sector has to be importing items that can be produced locally. He pointed out, for example, that strawberry and mint...

12 years ago Agriculture

RADA Stages Open Day

Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, will host the St. Andrew leg of a series of Open Days on Friday, December 6, at 197 Old Hope Road, in Kingston, beginning at 10:00 a.m. This event, which is in keeping with the on-going eat Jamaican campaign - ‘Grow What You Eat...Eat What You...

12 years ago Agriculture

Irrigation Systems Completed At Two Agro Parks

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, says that work has been completed on irrigation systems for two agro parks and the schemes should be fully operational in short order. He said that the systems at Yallahs, St. Thomas and Ebony Park in Clarendon are now ready for operation. “At Yallahs, it is finished now, and we should be...

12 years ago Agriculture

Irrigation Areas Established in St. Elizabeth and Manchester to Increase Crop Production

Farmers operating in St. Elizabeth and Manchester are expected to see greater levels of crop production and productivity, following the designation of irrigation areas in those parishes. Pedro Plains (Beacon/Little Park) in St. Elizabeth, and New Forest/Duff House, in Manchester have been chosen as irrigation areas, as contained in two Resolutions, which were approved in the Senate on November 15....

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke (centre, seated), and Head, European Union (EU) Delegation in Jamaica, Ambassador Paola Amadei (right, seated), exchange signed copies of the $660 million (€4.73 million) EU-funded Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) contract, at Tuesday’s (November 12) signing ceremony at the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, Hope Gardens, in St. Andrew. Over 1,400 banana and plantain farmers will benefit from provisions under the four-year funding programme. Looking on is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry (left seated). Others are (back row, from left): Chairperson, All Island Banana Growers Association (AIBGA), Grethel Sessing; British High Commissioner, David Fitton; Belgian Ambassador, Godlieve Vandenbergh; German Ambassador, Josef Beck; and Spanish Ambassador, Celso Nuño.

12 years ago Agriculture

Banana and Plantain Farmers to Benefit from EU Assistance

Over 1,400 banana and plantain farmers, and other sector interests, will benefit from a $660 million (€4.73 million) European Union (EU)-funded Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) special assistance programme, over the next four years. The programme, which forms part of the Government’s poverty eradication strategy, targets small farmers and other beneficiaries totaling approximately 3,000, in the banana growing parishes of St....