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A total of $78 million has been allotted in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure to facilitate job creation endeavours in the agricultural sector for this financial year. Some 1,236 jobs are expected to be provided for the sector, through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), with funding support from the Petro Caribe Fund. Interventions for this 2012/2013 financial year include...

Jamaica’s efforts to become compliant with the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) have been boosted through a $100 million allocation in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure. The aim is to ensure continued access of Jamaican foods to the United States and other leading international markets. The money will be used to provide technical and...

Some $89.4 million has been allotted to three projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. They are: the Rural Development project, which has received $39 million; the Lining of Canals Project for which $32.5 million has been allocated; and $17.9 million for the Agricultural Engineering Project. This is outlined in the 2012/2013 Estimates of Expenditure, now before...

A sum of $10 million has been allocated to the Youth Development Programme within the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. As contained in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on May 10, the programme aims to develop the interest and capabilities of children and young adults in agriculture and community-related activities as a means of...

To further increase the volume and value of Jamaica’s agricultural commodities that are marketed profitably and competitively, $66.5 million has been set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure to advance these activities.  The initiative, which is being carried out by the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is expected to...

Some $177.6 million has been injected into the Crop/Livestock Production Programme in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. As outlined in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, the programme provides support to the farming community in the management and improvement of livestock and crop rearing. The money will be divided among the Production Incentives Project, which will receive $40 million; the...

The ability of the agricultural sector to effectively compete will be greatly enhanced this fiscal year, with an allocation of $289 million to the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme. As contained in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the allocation will provide for the undertaking of research in export practices/constraints for non-traditional products in the United States,...

The capacity of the coffee industry should improve this fiscal year with a $16 million allocation to the Competitive Coffee Enterprises Programme in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which began in September 2010, aims to provide capacity building of coffee cooperataives in the central and northern regions of Jamaica; improve the competitiveness...

Approximately 240 Irish potato and onion farmers are to benefit from a sum of $250 million which will be on-lent through the National People’s Co-operative Bank of Jamaica Limited (NPCB) network. The sum is part of the $458 million allotment in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure to assist farmers under the Agricultural Support Project, being funded by the Caribbean Development...

The Input Supplies Project (ALBA Food Initiative) has been allotted $49 million in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to improve production and productivity in the agricultural sector through the provision of critical inputs, such as high quality seeds and other planting material, fertilizer, farm tools and small machinery. It is being...

The sugar industry should be significantly enhanced with a $1.9 billion allocation for this sector in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. Of the sum, $1.8 billion will go towards carrying out the activities of the Sugar Transformation Unit, which include compensation of employees, grants and contributions, and rental of property, machinery and equipment; while...

In keeping with the Government’s drive to promote sustainable development in the traditional banana growing areas of Jamaica, the Banana Support Project has received  an allotment of  $220 million in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, through funding from the European Union,...