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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, said that increasing production and consumption of local produce is a top priority of government, as it looks to reign in imports and increase economic gains. “In a developing country such as ours, and as a government, we believe… (this) must and should be the order of the day,” he said on...

Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, is calling on all farmers to get registered, noting that this is one of the most effective ways to ensure the success of the Agricultural Produce Receipt Book Programme. “I want to appeal to every Jamaican farmer to get registered and get your receipt books,” he implored. The Commissioner was speaking on Tuesday (February 28)...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has re-launched the Agricultural Produce Receipt Book Programme in an effort to curb the nagging problem of praedial larceny. Under the initiative, all registered farmers and vendors are required to issue a receipt, identifiable by a unique number, to anyone who purchases agricultural produce, as proof of payment.   Speaking at the re-launch held...

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...