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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...

Local manufacturers will get an opportunity to participate in the development of standards for value-added agricultural products and further expand their markets in terms of agro-processing and food exportation, at the upcoming 26th session of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV). The meeting, scheduled for the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel, Montego Bay, from October 15-19, is being...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, has underscored the need for the zoning of arable lands, to ensure they are utilised for cultivation and other agricultural purposes. Speaking at Wednesday's (October  3) final African, Pacific and Caribbean (ACP) Fish II Programme validation workshop, organised by the Ministry and the Belize–based ACP Regional Co-ordinating Unit, at the Farmers' Training Centre,...

An Aquaculture Development Plan is to be implemented this year, with assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says some $22 million will be allocated from the Fisheries Management Development Fund (FMDF), to carry out the exercise. The Minister was addressing an African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Fish II Programme validation workshop,...

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is moving to assist local pig farmers in generating bio-energy from their operations, which could boost their income and benefit the renewable energy sector. FAO Sub-Regional Livestock Development Officer for the Caribbean, Dr. Cedric Lazarus, said the organisation is making arrangements to facilitate a visit to Jamaica by German bio-energy expert Professor Jens Born...

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has completed work on a draft Swine Sector Review for Jamaica's pig industry. This review forms part of an undertaking by the FAO in four Caribbean countries, under the organisation's Regional Swine Influenza Project, through which requests for the document's preparation were made. The other countries in which similar reviews were drafted are: Barbados,...

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative to Jamaica, Bahamas and Belize, Dr. Jerome Thomas, says strategic systematic and sustained responses are needed to address the challenges threatening the food and nutrition security of Caribbean countries. Dr. Thomas argued that "there is every reason to believe" that the Caribbean region’s food and nutrition security status has been negatively affected by factors,...

With the restructuring of Jamaica's sugar industry now moving full speed ahead, there are some social consequences, one of which is the need for resettlement of  persons who were living in estate barracks. With this in mind, the Government has made provisions in the 2012/2013 financial year, for the resettlement of some 876 residents of sugar estates across the country...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the Ministry is currently conducting research on cassava, aimed at using the tuber as a partial substitute in the production of animal feeds. Speaking at the  Jamaica Pig Farmers Association (JPFA) annual general meeting at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, on September 27, Mr. Clarke informed that scientists at the Ministry's...