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The matter of putting unutilised and underutilised arable lands into agricultural production, dominated the Town Hall meeting, which Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, held with farmers, at Breezes Hotel, in Trelawny, on March 23. Dr. Tufton also outlined the Arable Lands Irrigated and Growing for the Nation (ALIGN) project, through which the Ministry plans to revolutionise...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that the Government is exploring the possibility of implanting microchips in farm animals to ensure traceability of meat at all times. He said that this technique is already being used in some countries around the world and Jamaica is looking into its use. Dr. Tufton was responding to questions...

For the period January to November 2009, there was an increase in food exports of 3.2 per cent, moving from US$107 million in 2008 to US$111 million in 2009. This was announced today (March 23), by Export Business Development and Information Services Officer at the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA), Mr. Royce Britton, at a press briefing, held at the JEA's...

Training sessions for goat farmers were held at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Conference Room in Mandeville, Manchester, and at the Sam Motta Demonstration Training Centre, in Knockpatrick, Manchester, on March 17. The training was carried out under the Strengthening of Jamaica's Food Security Programme, funded by the European Union, through its Food Facility Project, and conducted by the...

Local exporters are moving to take advantage of provisions under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed by some Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, and the European Union (EU). In the search for new export markets, the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA) has submitted a proposal to the European Union to administer a project to create a framework for sustainable development and expansion...

Despite the prolonged drought affecting Jamaica, the agricultural sector grew steadily during 2009, registering the largest increase in production in the fourth quarter of the year, of 33.5 per cent. Speaking at Wednesday's (March 17) Post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that the fourth quarter for 2009 marked the sixth...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon Daryl Vaz, reports that the agricultural sector recorded its sixth consecutive quarter of growth, October- December, 2009. Mr. Vaz noted the achievement as particularly significant, as the island was under persistent drought conditions for several months. The Minister, who was updating journalists on matters considered by Cabinet during its March 8 meeting, said that...

Young Manchester farmer, Nicholas Powell, has received a sponsorship package from Newport-Fersan Jamaica Limited, which will help to boost productivity of his farm in Coffee Grove in the parish. The package includes a monthly stipend to assist with farming and other key expenses, fertiliser, pesticide, and agricultural equipment. The young farmer, who is a 2009 recipient of the Governor-General's Youth...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has emphasised the importance of proper and effective management in the local sugar industry, in order to enable the country to reap maximum benefits. Speaking at the launch of the Government's $2.1 billion European Union (EU) funded Sugar Workers' Economic Support Programme, at the Bernard Lodge sugar factory, St. Catherine, on March...

The economic turmoil being experienced by countries worldwide, has made the issue of food security top priority for their governments. It is widely accepted that countries which are not totally dependent on imports to feed their population will be in a better position to emerge more speedily from the economic recession. With this in mind, the Government, through the Ministry...

Some 101 displaced sugar workers, formerly of the Frome Sugar Estate in Westmoreland, have been selected to receive special grants amounting to $16 million, through the government's Sugar Transformation Unit. The initiative, funded by the European Union, is geared towards providing alternative employment and economic support to over 800 sugar workers who have been laid off from all the sugar...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has praised the sugar industry stakeholders for the level of maturity being shown towards the Government's efforts to transform the sector into a viable and sustainable one. He said that the administration has had to take some tough decisions on the industry's future against the background of changing global developments and "all...