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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.

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...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (left), is greeted by President of the Jamaica Association of Sugar Technologists (JAST), Derrick Little (right), while Executive Chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA), Ambassador Derrick Heaven, (centre) looks on. Occasion was the 76th annual conference of JAST, held on November 7, at the Jamaica Grande Resort, in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.

Gov’t to Upgrade Sugar Producing Communities

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton.

Eating Local Produce Can Have A Positive Impact On Economy – Minister Clarke

Chief Executive Officer, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton (left), in discussion with Acting Executive Director, Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Ron Blake, at the Lauriston/Thompson Pen Community 4-H Club's Stew Festival, held on Saturday, November 2 at Brooklyn Park, Spanish Town, in St. Catherine.

Lauriston/Thompson Pen 4-H Club Impacting Young Lives

Founder of the Lauriston and Thompson Pen Community 4-H Club, Sian Christie (centre), and Club president, Antonio Williams (right), sample food prepared by club leader, Dennis Osbourne, at the annual Stew Festival held Saturday, November 2 at Brooklyn Park, Spanish Town, St. Catherine. In addition to stewed meats and fruits, the event featured other dishes including roast suckling pig.

Consumers Urged To Continue To Purchase Local Products

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (right), exchanges pleasantries with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative for Jamaica, Bahamas and Belize, Dr. Jerome Thomas. Occasion was the World Food Day National Ceremony and Exhibition held on Wednesday, October16, at the Greater Portmore High School in St. Catherine.

13 years ago Agriculture

November is Eat Jamaican Month

November has been designated ‘Eat Jamaican Month’ by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The month-long series of events and public awareness campaign coincide with the 10th Anniversary of the ‘Eat What We Grow…Grow What We Eat’ campaign, which was launched in 2003 by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS). Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, while addressing the...

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeil (centre), admires a carving of the Red Stripe Beer bottle, during a tour of the Norman Manley Beach Park in Negril on Wednesday, October 30, where the Agro-Tourism Farmers

13 years ago AgricultureTourism

Agro-Tourism Farmers’ Markets Launched In Resort Areas

A series of seven farmers’ markets are to be held in the resort areas of Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios over the next seven months, as the Government looks to bolster linkages between tourism and agriculture and promote local produce. This is being done through the Agro-Tourism Farmers’ Market Initiative, which is being funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon. Roger Clarke addresses the All Island Banana Growers Association (AIBGA) Board’s 60th anniversary celebration function at the Jamaica Conference Centre , downtown Kingston, on October 29.

13 years ago Agriculture

EU Lauded for Support to Banana Industry

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, has lauded the European Union (EU) for its continued support to the banana industry, which has again been demonstrated with the award of a four-year €1.9 million grant to the Banana Board. This is in addition to the Government of Jamaica’s €2.5 million, which is being provided to give technical support to farmers...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (left), greets a farmer, who attended the launch of the Irish Potato Programme for the crop year 2013/14, at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in S. Andrew on October 26. Others (seated from 2nd left) are: with Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Lenworth Fulton; and Deputy Chairman of RADA, Dr. Andre Gordon.

13 years ago Agriculture

Minister Clarke Launches 2013/14 Irish Potato Programme

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in collaboration with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), on October 23 launched the Irish Potato Programme for the crop year 2013/14. The proposed production target is 600 hectares for autumn; 600 hectares for spring; and 50 hectares for summer. In order to achieve this, the Ministry will be providing support in the sum...

Cocoa pods: Jamaican cocoa is considered to be among the best in the world.

13 years ago Agriculture

CIB Reports 100% Increase in Cocoa Production

The Cocoa Industry Board (CIB) is reporting an increase of more than 100 per cent in the production of cocoa for the 2011/2012 crop year. Some 476.5 metric tonnes of cocoa, valued at $150.6 million, were produced during that crop year, as against the 2010/2011 crop year, which recorded 216.5 metric tonnes. In an interview with JIS News, Co-ordinator for...

Traditional Jamaican Sunday morning breakfast - Ackee and Saltfish with Scotch Bonnet pepper

13 years ago Agriculture

November to be Observed as Eat Jamaican Month

As the Government intensifies efforts to get Jamaicans to eat more locally produced food, November has been designated as ‘Eat Jamaican Month’. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, officially launched the month during the staging of the World Food Day National Ceremony and Exhibition at the Greater Portmore High School in St. Catherine on Wednesday, October 16. He...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke (right), presents farm tools to teacher at the Cumberland High School, Heather Duke, during Wednesday’s (Oct. 16) World Food Day National Ceremony and Exhibition held at the Greater Portmore High School in St. Catherine. Cumberland High was one of several schools presented with tool kits during the event.

13 years ago Agriculture

Minister Clarke Stresses Gov’t’s Commitment to Food Security

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the Government remains committed to increasing the production of local foods as it intensifies efforts to promote food security and safety in Jamaica. He noted that the local domestic production of staples such as yams, bananas, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, Irish potatoes, and tomatoes continues to increase incrementally, while the island is...