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The Ministry of Health, in association with the Bureau of Standards, advises that before consuming ackee, individuals must ensure that: the ackee is mature and fully opened; thoroughly cleaned by removing the seed and the pinkish/reddish membrane; washed properly and cooked before eating; dispose of the water and cook other foods such as salt fish, ground provisions and rice, separately....

The Government’s Agricultural Business Information System (ABIS) provided the information to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to identify the current oversupply of fresh vegetables in the market and raise an alert. Marketing Consultant with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Dr. Derrick Deslandes, speaking at a JIS Think Tank news briefing, recently, said that after technical crews went into...

The Government is moving swiftly to implement stricter penalties for persons who fish illegally in Jamaica’s waters. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, speaking at his Hope Gardens headquarters earlier this week, said that the new Fisheries Act, which is currently being drafted, will address a range of issues governing interaction with marine resources. He said that...

With one month into the 2010/11 sugar crop season, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, is optimistic that the production target of 150, 000 tonnes will be reached. The figure is 27,000 tonnes more than the 123,000 tonnes produced in 2009/10. Speaking at the official launch of the season at the Frome Estate in Westmoreland on January...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, through its Export Division, is undertaking a spice development programme, which will target a number of spice crops for expansion and export. "Jamaica has a reputation for quality spices and we are trying to develop a spice industry," said General Manager of the Export Division, Sylburn Thomas.He told JIS News that the initiative is...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, says he is excited about the growth prospects for the sugar industry, noting that investors have been putting forward the necessary capital for the retooling of plants. He was speaking Wednesday December 15 at the official opening of National Rums of Jamaica Limited's state-of-the- art facilities at Clarendon Distillers Limited (CDL), located at Monymusk...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, yesterday (December 14) announced a $310.5 million emergency loan fund for coffee dealers, which will provide them with cash flow to meet capital requirements. Jointly funded by the Export/Import (EXIM) Bank and the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) the loan, which will be offered through the Coffee Industry Board (CIB), has...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has called on farmers to approach agriculture with clear management techniques as is done in other industries. "Agriculture is transforming, things are changing, and agriculture has to be demand- driven. Gone are the days when you grow and then hope that there is a market. We want you to become investors...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has underscored the pivotal and integral role of 4-H Clubs in advancing the Ministry's mandate islandwide, particularly relating to food security. Alluding to the organization's growth, which had seen evolved into a movement with 70,000 registered clubbites attached to some 550 clubs, the Minister contended that the 4-H movement is one...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with several partnering entities, for the management and protection of the country's marine resources, on Thursday (December 9). The agreement, which was signed at the Ministry, Hope Gardens, Kingston, is valid for the remainder of the fiscal year and is worth some $23 million. It was signed among...

Executive Chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA), Ambassador Derrick Heaven says while it is still unclear what impact the recent flood rains will have on the upcoming sugar crop, it is estimated that 150,000 tons of sugar will be produced and that all sugar factories, except for Long Pond, will be in operation. "What was known is that before...

Agro processors and suppliers of bulk fresh produce to end markets can now benefit from a $50 million Glut Management Fund, which is a pool of revolving loan funds available at concessionary single digit interest rates. To be administered by Agro-Investment Corporation (Agro-Invest), the Fund, launched at the office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Kingston Tuesday (November...