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KINGSTON — The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has spent approximately $15 million to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and to renovate the country's laboratory facilities and infrastructure, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, has informed. This, he says, is to ensure the quality and safety of Jamaica's agricultural products, so as to enhance access to markets, particularly overseas. Speaking at a food...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, said that Jamaica has the capacity to produce adequate numbers of livestock, competitively and comparatively, to supply meat for the local and export markets. This, he contended, however, is contingent on the collaborative efforts of all sector stakeholders in harmonising activities, particularly relating to animal health and disease surveillance, food safety, and veterinary...

KINGSTON — Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, is urging public health officers to ensure that meat inspections are done at the location where the animals are slaughtered. Additionally, he wants the officers to make sure that butchers are registered with the local health Board, and are in possession of a log book, as stipulated by the regulations governing...

KINGSTON — Effective January 1, 2012, agri-processors requesting waivers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, must get their applications certified by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).   The move, portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert Montague explained, is to ensure that the processors are not indebted to farmers or other suppliers, outside of their regular credit arrangements. Speaking at a...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, says Cabinet will soon deliberate over the drafting of a Food Safety Act, to set safety standards for imported foods. Mr. Montague said this is necessary as, “the protection of our Jamaican people is of paramount importance to the Government of Jamaica”. He was speaking at a food safety workshop...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved a $90.7 million contract to Marksman Limited for the provision of security services for Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and its facilities across the island. Speaking on September 21 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that the contract period is for two...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, has said that Jamaica should set certified standards, which importers must meet in order to distribute imported products on the local market. “We are in a global village where people are saying ‘if Jamaica is going to send goods into my part of the village, you must meet certain standards’…why...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague says the Ministry will be seeking to develop a programme to push the production of turmeric, which is the basis of the curry spice, a favourite of many Jamaicans. “We import $4 million worth of this spice…and it grows wild in Jamaica. It costs less than $100,000 per acre to...

KINGSTON — The Spanish Government has donated some $30 million to establish a regional Centre for Excellence in Advanced Technology for Agriculture (CEATA). This was announced by Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Mara Celsa Nuño, at the opening ceremony of the Caricom/Spain Technical Co-operation Programme for the Training of Greenhouse Technicians, at the Agriculture Ministry, Kingston on Tuesday September...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, has called on Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) extension officers to forge inter-agency relationships in their various parishes, and to take the lead in the development of rural agriculture. “The RADA van might be in the garage and you may have to borrow the Social Development Commission (SDC) van, but...

The Governments of Jamaica and the People’s Republic of China yesterday (Sept 19) signed two grant agreements for RMB 21 million (US$3.288 million) and a Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation. Another agreement for RMB 30 million (approximately US$5.617 million) was signed at the 3rd China/Caribbean Trade and Economic Forum in Trinidad last week. That amount brings the total agreements signed between the two...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has announced that divestment of the commercial aspects of the Cocoa Industry Board is well underway. Dr. Tufton said that the divestment was essential for the success of the industry, and for the benefit of small rural farmers and the Jamaican economy. “Cocoa, like coffee, is a pervasive...