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KINGSTON — Government is offering food exporters a special loan of $100 million and  general assistance, to bring their operations up to standard to meet the new United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, which take effect in January, 2012. Making the announcement at a press conference at the Ministry, in New Kingston, on September 6, Minister of...

KINGSTON — Jamaicans are being encouraged to eat more locally produced chicken meat, in an effort to further boost the sector and to increase employment among local workers. "What we're trying to do is to get persons to eat more of the local chickens and to hold down on some of the imports, so that we can employ more of...

KINGSTON — The first shipment of Jamaican honey, produced under a joint venture agreement between the Government, the All-Island Bee Farmers' Association (AIBFA) and the Boston Diaspora Ventures LLC (BDV), is expected to hit overseas markets within six months. This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, at the signing of the agreement at the Ministry,...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, has reaffirmed Government's push to ensure the survival of the aquaculture sub-sector through the introduction of new policies. Among them are the development of a national fisheries policy, which embraces the principles and tenets of the Common Fisheries Policy, including the ecosystems approach to fisheries and aquaculture development management; and...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says a strategic goal of the government is to not only facilitate economic growth and development, but to stimulate job creation. “My challenge, having been appointed in this capacity, is to facilitate as much as possible the creation of economic activity, and in particular, I would like at...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, says that as part of his plans to develop the agricultural sector, he will be looking at expanding the local pig industry.    Speaking to journalists following a tour of the Newport Genetics facilities in Bodles, St. Catherine, on Thursday August 18, Mr. Montague noted that the Jamaican pig industry...

KINGSTON — COMPLANT International, the China-based company which has acquired the state-owned assets of Jamaica's sugar industry, is now set to roll out its investment of some US$156 million to renovate three factories and sugar cane lands over the next four years. This commitment was reinforced at an elaborate ceremony marking the handing over of the Jamaican Government’s sugar assets...

KINGSTON — Chairman, Board of Directors of Pan Caribbean Sugar Company, Lyn Yuting, said upgrading works at three divested Government sugar factories, will take three to four years, without disrupting production. He was speaking on August 15, at a contract signing ceremony at Jamaica House,  at which COMPLANT formally acquired Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine; Frome, Westmoreland; Monymusk, Clarendon and associated...

KINGSTON — The Government has completed privatisation of the island's sugar industry, on August 15 signing a divestment agreement with COMPLANT Group of Companies for the three remaining factories. Under the arrangement, which was signed at Jamaica House, COMPLANT will acquire Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine; Frome, Westmoreland; Monymusk, Clarendon and associated lands for US$9 million ($774 million). The Chinese company...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, toured the Airport Point fish sanctuary in Montego Bay on Thursday August 9. Mr. Montague participated in assembling a number of  units, known as EcoReefs, which are ceramic based branching structures, designed to mimic a species of branching coral that has disappeared from Jamaican reefs due to storms and...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has set aside approximately $1billion for the continued development of the sugar industry. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday August 4 at the Ministry, Hope Road, Kingston, portfolio minister, Hon Robert Montague, said that the money is in addition to the $523 million already budgeted, and will be made available, up...

KINGSTON — Newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, says he has embarked on building a coalition of small and large players in the agricultural sector to ensure that farming gets the attention it needs to keep it buoyant. “Agriculture is in good hands, I have started a series of consultations with stakeholders, I have called in...