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The new wage agreement for workers within the sugar industry was on Feb. 23 signed between the Sugar Producers’ Federation and trade union groups representing employees. The agreement will see the workers benefiting from a nine-point claim, which will also cover improved working conditions. It was signed after months of negotiations and intervention by the Ministry of Labour and Social...

More than 4,000 of the island’s coffee farmers are to benefit from a $29 million grant being provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, who made the announcement at a press briefing at his Hope Gardens office on February 23, said it is estimated that this grant will “contribute some 30 to 40 per...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, said that the Ministry is awaiting a progress report on the proposed divestment of the state-owned Wallenford Coffee Company Limited from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), which is leading the process. Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices on February 23, Mr. Clarke said that to date, only...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, says moving the banana industry forward is a top priority of the Government, with two major goals being an increase in local consumption and exporting  the fruit to neighbouring countries, such as the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. He said the Ministry is in the final stage of discussions...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the Government is committed to moving agriculture forward, by reviving the traditional crops, such as sugar, banana, coffee, cocoa and citrus. Citing the great economic potential that exists in sugar cane production, the Minister said that currently, there is $658 million in the Cane Expansion Fund, and the Government would increase...

State Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Ian Hayles, says the continued input of local industries will create the jobs necessary to further develop the country. He emphasised that a major focus of the new Government is the creation of jobs, and “it’s our local (companies) that are going to play that role in going forward." The State Minister was...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, said that stakeholders within the small ruminants industry have benefitted significantly from the recently concluded Food Facility Project for Jamaica. The two-year project, from June 2009 to November 2011, was undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through €5.9 million in funding from the European Union (EU). Speaking at last week’s Jamaica...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the Government has received a US$15.1 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to assist in financing the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP). Addressing the Christiana Potato Growers’ Co-operative Association’s annual general meeting  in Manchester, on February 16, Mr. Clarke said the ACP, to be implemented by the Ministry through the Agro-Investment...

The Coffee Industry Board (CIB), in collaboration with stakeholders (farmers, the  coffee growers association and coffee dealers),  has set up a Task Force  to aggressively fight the Coffee Berry Borer, which poses a serious threat to the industry. The Coffee Berry Borer is a microscopic beetle that invades the coffee berry in its early stage, eventually destroying the berry.   Speaking...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, has urged the country’s potato and goat farmers to produce more, in order to further reduce imports and the associated costs, and safeguard the nation’s food security. Speaking at the annual general meetings of the Christiana Potato Growers and Jamaica Goat Farmers Associations, in Manchester and St. Catherine, respectively, on February  16, Mr....

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, has said that the Research and Development Division must play a greater role in driving growth in the industry. Mr. Clarke was addressing staff of the Bodles Research Station on February 15, at the facility station’s location in Old Harbour, St. Catherine. He noted that research “isn’t something sexy,” and the work...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, has informed that the Government has so far realised a total of $1.0304 billion from the privatisation of government owned sugar factories. Speaking  in the House of Representatives, today (February 14),  Mr. Clarke said the  St. Thomas Sugar Estate was sold for $67.067 million ($42.5 million for the factory and $24.56 million...