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KINGSTON — The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries presented machinery valued at US$300,000 to the Jamaica Rice Producers Association (JARPA) on November 3 as part of efforts by the Government to re-develop the local rice industry. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, handed over the equipment to the rice producers, which consists of two rice combine harvesters, during a brief ceremony...

KINGSTON — Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Robert Montague has announced a 23% price increase in the price of cocoa to farmers. The farmers will now be paid J$ 2,000 as total payment per box of wet cocoa for the October/2011 to September 2012 crop from J$1, 620.00 last year. The increase was approved at a recent Board of Director's...

MONTEGO BAY — With nine parishes inspected to date, the Apiculture Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture is reporting that less than two per cent of bee hives are infected with the American Foulbrood Disease (AFB). Head of the Unit and Chief Plant Protection Officer, Reginald Peddy, told JIS News that the intent is to bring the infection rate for...

KINGSTON — The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) has launched a special assistance programme to provide grant support to firms exporting food products to the United States (US). This new facility is in line with the agency's efforts to ensure that firms within Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region are able to meet the requirements of the US Food...

Upgrading the island's infrastructure, in particular the seaports, has been one of the major objectives of the Ministry of Transport and Works, led by Minister, Hon. Mike Henry. This is being done in order to capitalise on the island’s strategic geographical location in relation to other countries in the western hemisphere, says Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Alwin Hales,...

KINGSTON — The country is set to gain well-needed foreign exchange from the export of almost 5,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer to the neighbouring country of Cuba, by Newport-Fersan Jamaica Limited, commencing with the first shipment on Friday, October 21. The second shipment to that country is scheduled to leave Jamaica by the end of next week. Managing Director, Newport-Fersan...

MONTEGO BAY — The importation of food will be done under new regulations as of early next year, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries moves to improve the standards and safety of all imported foods into the country. According to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, the move has come about as part of Jamaica’s Food Safety...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, has announced that commencing in January 2012, the  Ministry will be implementing a fruit tree re-planting project, to coincide with Jamaica’s 50th anniversary celebration. "We are seeking to plant some 50,000 fruit trees across the island, which will not only achieve the goals of re-forestation, import substitution and export potential,...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has finalised arrangements for farmers to access low-cost loans for the production of Irish potatoes and onions. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, who announced the initiative as he opened the 2011 Denbigh Agricultural Show on July 30, informed that the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and the People’s Cooperative (PC) Bank have...

KINGSTON — Three fishing beaches, rehabilitated under the Improving Jamaica’s Agricultural Productivity (IJAP) programme, were officially handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on October 7, 2011. Renovated at a cost of $81 million, the Old Harbour Bay, Savanna-la-Mar, and Rocky Point fishing beaches located in St. Catherine, Westmoreland,...

KINGSTON — The pig/pork industry is set to benefit from a US$93,000 ($8.4 million)  value chain analysis of the industry, which will be carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). The six-month comprehensive study is aimed at underpinning the development of the industry. Agreement for the initiative was signed by Minister...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is implementing a number of strategies to narrow the gap between fish imports and exports, as it seeks to improve the sustainability of the industry. Noting that over 28,000 metric tonnes of fish, valued at $7.8 billion,  are imported annually, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, noted that the plan...