More

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton has signalled the Ministry's intention to stage Farmers' Market once per month, as part of the overall thrust to increase and support domestic crop production. He assured that in promoting  the Farmers’ Market, the Ministry is not seeking to replace or compete with traditional markets. “However, we do feel...

MANDEVILLE — Marketing Consultant at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Dr. Derrick Deslandes, says support for the ‘Eat Jamaican’ campaign is growing, as many persons are turning out at the road shows across the island. Speaking with JIS News at the May Pen leg of the road show, which was held on April 29, Dr. Deslandes said the project...

KINGSTON — Domestic food crop production for the January to March quarter was the highest in 11 years, with some 147,378 tonnes produced, 24.4 per cent more than the corresponding quarter for 2010. This increased production propelled the agricultural sector to grow by 14 per cent overall for the quarter, when compared with the similar period last year. Minister of...

MANDEVILLE — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton says the agricultural sector is currently receiving more favourable attention from financial institutions. Speaking at an Arable lands Irrigated and Growing for the Nation (ALIGN) business meeting on April 27, at the St. Dorothy’s Anglican Church, in Church Pen, St. Catherine, the Minister said that while he is yet...

PORT ANTONIO — The Rural Agricultural Authority (RADA) is reporting that approximately $3.5 million in sales was generated from the fourth farmers' market held in Portland last week. RADA Marketing Officer for the parish, Erica Daley, told JIS News that 64 farmers from Portland, St. Mary, St. Catherine, Clarendon, St. Ann and St. Elizabeth participated in the market held at...

MANDEVILLE — Ground was broken for a $34 million post-harvest facility in Coleyville, Manchester, on April 27, by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton. The project will provide much needed post-harvest management for agricultural crops in and around the area. Addressing the ceremony, Dr. Tufton said the project will provide tremendous opportunities to small farmers in three...

MONTEGO BAY — The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be playing a more direct role in the staging of agricultural shows across the island, with a minimum $500,000 in sponsorship committed for each event. With approximately six major agricultural shows held across the island during the course of any one year, including the Denbigh Agricultural Show in Clarendon, the...

MONTEGO BAY — Preliminary figures show, more than 20 per cent increase in domestic crop production for the first quarter of 2011, over the similar period last year. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, who made the announcement at the opening of the Montpelier Agricultural and Industrial Show yesterday April 25 in St. James, said that the...

MANDEVILLE — As part of ongoing efforts to cushion the effects of the temporary cessation in bauxite mining, mining company Alpart, and its community council is providing $3 million in agricultural assistance to farmers in St. Elizabeth. At the handing over ceremony held on April 18, at the Alpart Sport Club, in Nain, in the parish, the farmers received 450...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and  Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton will host an Arable Lands Irrigating and Growing for the Nation (ALIGN) business meeting on April 27,  at the St. Dorothy's Anglican Church Hall, Church Pen, Old Harbour, St. Catherine, commencing at 5:00 p.m. The meeting is to engage farmers in St. Catherine and areas of Clarendon who jointly...

MANDEVILLE — Denbigh High School student, Michael Lewis and Corinaldi Avenue Primary School student, Siegel Allen are the 2011 Jamaica 4-H Clubs Boy and Girl of the Year. The two were crowned at the National Achievement Expo held recently at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon after their projects were judged to be the most outstanding. Beaming in his achievement, 17-year...

KINGSTON — To achieve an effective transition to a sustainable sugar cane industry, the Government has allocated just over $2 billion for the Sugar Transformation Project in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. As stated in the Estimates, the project aims to develop a sustainable private sector- led sugar cane industry by 2015;...