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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...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved drafting instructions to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for amendments to the Standards Act, the Processed Foods Act and related regulations. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the disclosure on May 12 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. He informed that proposals are being made to amend the legislation,...

KINGSTON — This year's staging of the Kingston and St. Andrew Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show - ‘Agro Fest’, will feature a host of exciting new activities to entertain the entire family, including a Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) ‘Eat What We Grow’ cook off competition. A canine display by Guardsman security company, health fair, farmers’ domino competition, police mounted troupe...

KINGSTON — Parish committees are to be established to carry out the planning of the major agricultural shows as Government moves to restructure and rebrand the events staged across the island each year. The committees will include the Custos of the relevant parishes, the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)...

KINGSTON — Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Marc Panton, says the Eat Jamaican Campaign is an avenue to provide Jamaicans with healthy foods, while creating wealth for local farmers. “I am sure you will all agree that we would rather encourage local spending with our farmers, than having to buy foreign exchange and send...

KINGSTON — Jamaica has not imported a number of vegetable crops, including lettuce, tomato, cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers, since the start of this year. Making the disclosure at a press conference on the domestic food crop sector for the first quarter of the year, on  May 2, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton pointed out that,...

KINGSTON — The Hounslow post-harvest and packaging facility in St. Elizabeth is to be opened by early June, says Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton. He said that the 8,800-square foot plant, which will be operated by GraceKennedy Limited, will serve as a “buying house for agricultural produce, where value will be created through post-harvest management." “We...

KINGSTON — Local farmers are displaying their typical resilience, with recovery from Tropical Storm Nicole now estimated at some 85 per cent, as they increase production and repay the loans with which they were assisted to replant their crops and sustain their livelihood. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Al Powell, explains that most farmers...