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Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, addresses the official launch of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.(RADA) Connect initiative, which was held at Newell High School in Watchwell, St. Elizabeth, on May 8.

Improved Service to Farmers Through RADA Connect

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has launched its Connect initiative, which is aimed at bringing RADA and other necessary services directly to the island’s farmers. These services include technical support, advisory services, and other resources to improve their yields...

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, delivers the main address during the official opening of the Platfield to Brainerd Farm Road in St. Mary on Wednesday (May 7).

Agriculture Ministry Identifies Prime Land in St. Mary for Large-Scale Farming

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (fifth right), cuts the ribbon symbolising the official opening of the Platfield to Brainerd Farm Road in St. Mary, on May 7. Among those participating in the exercise are Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Garnet Edmondson (second left); Councillor for the Richmond Division, Richard Creary (fourth left); and Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Fitzroy Wilson (fourth right).

Rehabilitated Platfield to Brainerd Farm Road in St. Mary Now Open

Community Peer Educator, Delsie Malcolm (left), conducts a health test on farmer Kenneth Lewis, during a health fair and information forum in Pinnock Shafston, Westmoreland, on Tuesday (April 29).

Over 140 Farmers Benefit from Health Fair and Business Forum in Pinnock Shafston, Westmoreland

Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second left); and State Minister in the Ministry, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn (left), bid farewell to the 95 farm workers who left the island on Tuesday (April 29) for destinations in Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP). The send-off ceremony was held at the Ministry’s Overseas Employment Centre in Kingston. Another 223 workers left the island on Wednesday (April 30) under the Canadian SAWP.

Hundreds of Farm Workers Off to Canada

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (left), converses with Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) President, Owen Dobson, during Tuesday’s (April 29) ‘Thank A Farmer’ Wellness Fair at Hope Gardens in St. Andrew.

11 months ago Agriculture

Gov’t Continues to Make Strides in Combatting Praedial Larceny

The Government continues to make significant strides in combatting praedial larceny. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, says 139 arrests were made in 2024, compared to 78 the previous year. Additionally, he said there was in rise in the number of cases before the courts, from 138 in 2023 to 201 in 2024. “In 2023, we formed...

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, Courtney Cole, addresses the closing activity for the two-day Farmers Organization for Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (FO4ACP) programme held at the Sea Garden Beach Resort in Montego Bay, St. James, on Tuesday (April 29).

11 months ago AgricultureFisheries

Local Farmers Empowered Under Five-Year Programme

More than US$200,000 has been invested in empowering farmers’ groups in Jamaica since 2019 under the Farmers Organization for Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (FO4ACP) programme. “These funds facilitated the development of management tools, the implementation of innovative productive techniques and capacity-building initiatives,” said Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Courtney Cole. He was speaking at...

Managing Director of the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), Dr. David Lowe (left), examines a two-month old strawberry plant on Diandra Rowe’s farm as she informs that the average plant is capable of producing some eight pounds of fruit during its lifetime. Observing is Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green. Event was a tour of Abbey Garden Farm on Strawberry Cluster Open Day, in Mandeville, Manchester, on April 30.

11 months ago AgricultureDevelopmentYouth

Strawberry Farmers Access Financing from DBJ

Four strawberry farmers have accessed financing of $43 million from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), to improve and expand their production. Their success stories were outlined at the Strawberry Cluster Open Day hosted by Diandra Rowe, CARICOM’s Champion Youth Farmer for 2023, at Abbey Garden Farm in Mandeville, Manchester, on April 30. The four farms are Synergy Business Solutions,...

Public Relations and Communications Specialist, Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), Kenrick Morgan, speaks during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS ) ‘Think Tank’, at the Agency’s Television Department in Kingston.

11 months ago AgricultureCommerce

JACRA to Implement Cutting-Edge Traceability and Regulatory Platform This Year

The Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) will be rolling out its traceability and regulatory platform later this year. Established in 2017 under the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority Act, JACRA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining. It oversees the development, regulation and standardisation of agricultural commodities such as coffee, cocoa, coconut, and spices,...

Project Manager, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Vanessa Oates (left); Executive Director, Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), Dr. Velton Gooden (third left); Project Focal Point, BSJ, Tafara Smith (centre); and Project Donor Representative from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), Pablo Jenkins, with hot pepper farmers holding packages of farming equipment and other implements during the ‘Improving Phytosanitary, Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along the Hot Pepper Value Chain in Jamaica’ project handover ceremony, on Monday (April 28), at the Kingston offices of theBSJ.

11 months ago AgricultureCommerceDevelopmentIndustryInvestment

Project to Increase Export Earnings from Hot Pepper

Increased export earnings from hot pepper are among the projected outcomes from the soon-to-be concluded ‘Improving Phytosanitary, Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along the Hot Pepper Value Chain in Jamaica’ project. The project aims to support increased compliance to sanitary and phytosanitary standards for production and export of Jamaica’s hot pepper to the European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK),...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Derron Grant.

11 months ago AgricultureHealth & Wellness

Farmers Encouraged to Attend Thank-A-Farmer Wellness Fair April 29

Farmers across the country are being invited to Hope Gardens in Kingston for the Thank-A-Farmer Wellness Fair on Tuesday, April 29, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Derron Grant, said this event is part of Farmers’ Month activities. “This year, we are celebrating our food heroes and the message is to thank...

Chairman of the Westmoreland 4-H Parish Advisory Council, Pius Lacan, addresses the launch of phase two of the Westmoreland Primary Schools’ Container Gardening Project at Icon Importers and Distributors Limited in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, on Friday, April 25.

11 months ago AgricultureDevelopmentEducationYouth

Westmoreland Primary Schools Container Gardening Project Enters Second Phase

The top four institutions have advanced to the second phase of the Westmoreland Primary Schools’ Container Gardening Project. They are New Hope Primary, which took first place, Grange Hill Primary, which placed second and New Works and St. Paul's Primary, which tied for third place. Organised by Icon Importers and Distributors Limited, the competition is designed to promote sustainable agriculture...