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The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is moving to further enhance production in nine key crops and sectors, as part of short term efforts to counter the challenges associated with rising global food prices that could have serious implications for Jamaica. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the crops and sectors identified include: Irish potato, onion, yam, honey, small ruminants,...

Ten families, formerly residents of the Causeway Fishing Village in Portmore, St. Catherine, have been presented with titles to their new properties in Portmore Villa by State Minister for Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Richard Azan. The titles were handed over during a ceremony held at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston, on September 24. A total of 16 families who...

The Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), since its launch  in March this year, has provided more than 15,000 previously jobless Jamaicans with employment opportunities, and impacted various sectors of the economy. Agriculture is among the areas benefitting from the programme, which is now in its second phase, and is designed as a major plank of the Government's thrust to stimulate...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is partnering with authorities in the United States of America (USA) to implement the 'Traveller's Don't Pack a Pest' programme in Jamaica. The initiative, which will be launched next month, involves collaboration with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Plant Industry (FDACS); the United States Department of Agriculture - Animal...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, will over the next three years, be investing some US$8 million in the development of eight agro parks in six parishes across the island. These are: St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Trelawny. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, in a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (September 18), said...

The Government will be launching the country's National Food and Nutrition Security Policy in October. This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, during a statement to the House of Representatives on September 18. The Minister explained that the policy, which will be launched by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, aims to provide...

The Government of Jamaica, in response to rising corn prices, is collaborating with a number of local private sector entities, notably Jamaica Broilers Limited, to expand corn production. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, made the disclosure on September 18 in the House of Representatives. He informed that, already, the company has established 100 acres of corn, and...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will embark on a National Food Safety Compliance pilot project for the export market, as it looks to improve the safety of fresh produce being exported to the United States as well as those consumed in Jamaica. Being funded by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) at a cost of approximately $49 million, the...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, has lauded the work of the Food Safety Modernization Act Committee (FSMA), noting that the body has had a number of significant accomplishments since its establishment in October last year. The committee was implemented in an effort to develop a strategy aimed at improving the capacity and capability of farmers and fresh...

The Government of Jamaica has embarked on a three-year Food Safety Modernisation (FSM) project to ensure that the country’s food safety standards are compliant with those stipulated under the revised United States Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).    The project, which will be implemented by the Food Safety Modernization Act Committee at a cost of $414 million, will be funded...

The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) has embarked on a 'National Red Peas Planting Project' aimed at revitalizing local production and reducing the high import bill for the commodity. Under the initiative, some 150 hectares of red peas will be planted over a 12-month period, to increase productivity by 30 per cent over the first year of the project, and grow...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is seeking to better utilise the data gathered through the Geographical Information System (GIS) method, as a key strategy to further boost agricultural productivity. To this end, a workshop was held at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in Kingston on August 21, where GIS stakeholders discussed the way forward. The GIS is a computable...