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Thirty (30) tertiary level scholarships and three bursaries under the Jamaica 50 PetroCaribe Scholarship and Merit Awards programme will be presented by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in a special function on Friday (November 2). The 33 tertiary level awards form part of a 209 million dollar Jamaica 50 Scholarship initiative being funded by the PetroCaribe Development Fund. The scholarship...

State Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Ian Hayles, has said Hurricane Sandy has dealt a devastating blow to the country’s agricultural sector, with the latest estimates putting the cost of the damage at close to $2 billion. Mr. Hayles, who spoke to JIS News following a tour of several farms in Portland yesterday (October 29), said that close to...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be providing initial assistance of some $200 million to assist farmers, who were severely affected during the passage of Hurricane Sandy last week, in addition to fertiliser and other inputs to facilitate replanting. This was disclosed by Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Ian Hayles on Oct. 29, during a tour of...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Ian Hayles, says  early estimates indicate that close to 11,000 farmers across the island have been affected by Hurricane Sandy, with some 1,500 hectares of crops “totally destroyed.” “The level of devastation to the agricultural sector is going to take us a little time to get back on our...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting an estimated $700 million in damage to the sector from Hurricane Sandy, which impacted the island on October 24.                 Portfolio Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says a preliminary assessment is indicating that some areas, particularly banana and farm roads, suffered considerable damage. “The estimates coming out of 11 parishes indicate that we have...

Travellers, who take uncertified plants, animals or food into the country, are placing agriculture and public health at risk, as these items could contain harmful pests and diseases. This is the word from Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Marc Panton, as he addressed the Kingston launch of the ‘Don’t Pack a Pest’ public awareness...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on October 17, 2012 officially launched  the ‘Don’t Pack a Pest’ public awareness initiative at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and at the Falmouth Cruise Ship Pier in Trelawny. The programme is a collaborative effort between Jamaica and the United States, through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of...

MONTEGO BAY - State Minister for Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, has underscored the need for local food processors to maintain high standards in their operations, in order to ensure consumer safety, and enhance Jamaica's competitive edge in the global marketplace. "The maintenance of high standards, with respect to (the) quality (of food) and consumer safety and protection,...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be enhancing extension support to farmers, by increasing the time officers spend out in the field. “I want to see the extension officers out there in the field, working with the farmers on a daily and continuing basis,” said portfolio Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke. He was addressing the graduation ceremony for over 30...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, is increasing its appeal for Jamaicans to support the country’s farmers through the consumption of more local produce.  During a tour of farming communities in St. James yesterday (Oct.11), State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Ian Hayles, also called on importers to be patriotic and buy local where it is available. “It cannot be...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, has emphasised the need to position agriculture as the main driver which will assist in piloting Jamaica out of its current economic challenges. Highlighting the country's almost US$1 billion food import bill, which he describes as "unsustainable," the Minister said this and other economic hurdles need to be substantially addressed through agriculture. Speaking...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says Jamaica must always strive towards achieving food security and to cut down on its food import bill. "When one recognises the problems we have been facing with food security, and just recently, we had these problems with grain (shortage), it is telling us that we cannot rest on our laurels. We have...