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Jamaica’s banana industry is to benefit from a €180,000 ($20 million) grant under the European Union Banana Support Programme (EUBSP), which will be used to effect institutional strengthening within the sector. This commitment was formalised at a contract signing at the All Island Banana Growers Association’s (AIBGA) South Avenue offices in Kingston on Wednesday May 2, 2012 involving AIBGA Chairperson,...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, has endorsed the annual pan-jerked chicken competition, staged by the Caribbean Broilers Group of Companies, describing it as an example of the government’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and producing and eating more local foods. Speaking at the launch of the 2012 tournament on May 1 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, Mr. Clarke...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, has expressed satisfaction with the work of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, in promoting agriculture among the nation’s youth. Speaking at the organisation’s National Achievement Expo at the Denbigh Agricultural Showground on April 27, Mr. Clarke said that from the quality of the displays, he is “satisfied that the 4-H Movement is on the...

State Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Ian Hayles, has suggested that farmers consider diversifying the categories of crops they cultivate, and revising the planting schedules for some, in order to address the problem of glut currently affecting the agricultural sector. Speaking at the handing over of agricultural tools, supplies and other inputs to several schools in Clarendon, at the...

State Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Ian Hayles, is warning that food imported into the island, which have been found to be unfit for human consumption, will be destroyed. Addressing a cheque presentation ceremony at the Knox College in Spalding, Clarendon, recently, Mr. Hayles voiced concern over reports that some persons are importing produce into Jamaica “that other countries...

A Motion urging the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and various stakeholders to diversify the market for Jamaican coffee and improve the quality of the product, was approved in the Senate on April 27. Senator Norman Grant who moved the Motion, said the Jamaican coffee industry has been affected over the past nine years by a series of storms related...

Jamaica is seeking to boost cocoa production to put the industry on a solid footing and capitalise on the country’s reputation of being one of eight exclusive producers of fine or flavoured cocoa. Through the €375,000  Re-engineering the Cocoa Rural Economy Through Agro-processing, Eco-Tourism and Entrepreneurship (RECREATE) project, farmers in the parishes of Portland, St. Mary, St. Catherine, St. Thomas,...

Yet another imported shipment of food, deemed unfit for consumption, has been confiscated by the Food Storage and Prevention of Infestation Division (FSPID) of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce. This time, the FSPID has seized some 22.73 metric tonnes of red kidney beans (red peas), valued at more than $2.6 million, imported from Belize by a local distributor....

The nation's farmers are again being urged to increase productivity in order to safeguard the sector's viability. This call came from Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, and Director General in the Ministry, Don McGlashan, at a plant nutrition seminar held on Tuesday (April 24) at the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine. Minister Clarke lamented the "vast acreages"...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, has underscored the important role which genetic application must play in advancing Jamaica’s agricultural outputs. Speaking at a plant nutrition seminar at the Ministry’s research station at Bodles, St. Catherine, on April 24, Mr. Clarke said sector stakeholders are now cognisant of the fact that, increasingly, science and technology “must play a critical...

To curb the long standings courge of praedial larceny, soon after taking office in early January, the new administration in February re-launched the Agricultural Produce Receipt Book Programme. Under the initiative, all registered farmers and vendors are required to issue a receipt, identifiable by a unique number, to anyone who purchases agricultural produce, as proof of payment.  Speaking at the...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke has disclosed his intention to discuss with the principals of the Jamaica Producers Group (JPG), operators of St. Mary Banana Estate, how  the Government can assist in enhancing its multi-million dollar expansion plans. Mr. Clarke told JIS News that in a preliminary discussion he had impressed on the Chairman of the JPG,...