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MONTEGO BAY — About 30 persons from Somerton and surrounding communities in Eastern St. James were on Sunday May 29 recognized as the first graduating class of the ‘Innovative skills training in food preparation for community development and economic empowerment’ course, at the Windsor Lodge Community Centre. The training was done over a two-week period in February, by Food and...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has launched four critical training manuals to guide farmers in the best practices of soil and water management, thereby raising the level of awareness, increasing crop yield and increased earnings. The manuals will be disseminated to Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) extension officers, who will in turn provide guidance for farmers. Speaking...

PORT ANTONIO — Some 11,000 residents of St. Mary braved inclement weather to support the parish's most recent farmers' market held on May 25 at the Trinity Boxing plant in Port Maria. Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Marketing Officer for St. Mary, Alfred Dunkley, told JIS News that while the persistent rainfall kept some consumers away and prevented more farmers...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, officially opened the Ministry’s Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch’s ambient/cold storage facility at the Agricultural Export Complex, Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Thursday (May 26). The new facility is expected to boost exporter confidence, and increase the flow of exports through the complex. Delivering the main address at the...

KINGSTON — Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says Jamaica must move quickly to implement policies to safeguard the nation’s food security, and preserve water resources and the environment. Speaking at the official launch of Green Expo 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston on Tuesday (May 24), Dr. Tufton said that global challenges, relating to the...

MANDEVILLE — Householders, who use substances such as gas oil to treat their homes for termites, are being urged to desist from that dangerous practise. Registrar at the Pesticide Control Authority (PCA), Michael Ramsay, said that rather that eliminating the pest, the use of these substances can cause harm. He said that getting rid of termites requires the use of...

KINGSTON — The national 'Eat Jamaican' campaign, aimed at increasing local production and encouraging consumers to make healthy choices by consuming local produce, culminated on May 25 with a grand road show at the Portmore Heart Academy, in St. Catherine. The $17.2 million, three-month campaign, staged under the theme: ‘Eat what we grow, grow what we eat’, included the staging...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton says a scientific approach to cultivation, particularly in the coconut industry, is necessary for continued sustenance and growth of the sector. “There is significant economic value to be derived from investing in this (coconut) industry, by supporting the farmers to expand, but it has to be done in a...

KINGSTON — Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says a disaster management team has been established in the Ministry to focus on enhancing the sector’s capacity to minimise the risks and damage associated with the impact of extreme weather patterns affecting Jamaica. Speaking on May 24 launch of the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust’s (JCDT) Green Expo 2011...

KINGSTON — More than 30 wardens and other stakeholders within the fisheries sector are benefitting from a three-day enforcement training workshop organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The training exercise, which commenced on May 18 at the Farmers’ Training Centre, Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, aims to strengthen and reinforce understanding of the provisions of the Fishing Industry Act...

KINGSTON — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has provided approximately US$120,000 to undertake a competitiveness study as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries seeks to develop a programme to address the glut in domestic production. The study, and a comprehensive glut strategy being put in place, is expected to augment other initiatives that the Ministry has already implemented to ensure...

KINGSTON — Hundreds of persons in Lucea, Hanover; and Falmouth, Trelawny, were introduced to the Ministry of Agriculture's 'Eat Jamaican' campaign, when road shows were held in those towns on Saturday, May 14. The national 'Eat Jamaican' campaign aims at increasing local production, and encouraging consumers to make healthy choices by eating local produce, fruits and vegetables.  The campaign is...