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Machinery valued at $60.4 million has been donated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries by the Government of the People's Republic of China, in a bid to increase rice production in the island. The equipment, which include harvesters, drying machines, seedling transplanters, tractors, harrows, ploughs and trucks, among others, were handed over on July 13, at the Agro Investment...

Executive Chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA), Ambassador Derrick Heaven, has commenced discussions with all the relevant parties to resolve the issues concerning the closure of the Long Pond Sugar Factory in Trelawny, for the next crop season. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton updates the House of Representatives, on July 13 on the divestment of...

The Government's Sugar Divestment Team (SDT) is to finalise a deal soon with China's COMPLANT International Sugar Industry Company, for the sale of its three remaining sugar factories - Frome, Monymusk and Bernard Lodge - following Monday's (July 12) green light from the Cabinet. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton updates the House of Representatives yesterday (July...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Coffee Industry Board today (July 13), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Hangzhou Coffee and Western Food Association from China, which will create another market for the distribution of premium Jamaican coffee. The signing was held at the Coffee Industry Board offices, Marcus Garvey Drive, in Kingston. Minister of Agriculture and...

A business exposition, staged by Central Agricultural Supplies Company (CASCo), will be held at the Manchester Club, in Mandeville, on July 24. Co-ordinator of the event, Chevaughne Miller, told JIS News that this is an opportunity for business operators to expose some of the products and services that are available in the area. The expo is also being supported by...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that there will be stricter monitoring of fishing beaches to ensure that unsafe chemicals are not being used to preserve fish. Making the announcement at the re-opening on July 8, of the upgraded Parottee Fishing Beach in St. Elizabeth, Dr. Tufton said he has instructed the Veterinary Division to...

Displaced sugar workers in the Monymusk Sugar Dependent Area have received grants under the Economic Mitigation Programme, a Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries initiative supported by the European Union (EU). Speaking at the presentation at the Halse Hall Great House, Clarendon, recently, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, pointed out that so far 180 persons have benefitted...

The Forestry Department is looking to increase its number of local forest management committees, as it intensifies efforts to preserve the country's forest cover. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Department and Conservator of Forests, Marilyn Headley, said that community members, who reside or work in close proximity to forested areas, play a critical role in the protection and...

In recognition of the role agriculture must play in the economy, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be working together to restructure agricultural education. Speaking during his contribution to the 2010/11 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives recently, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, noted that the agricultural education infrastructure...

Leaders in the fisheries sector are calling for the cessation of practices that could destroy the industry, thereby preserving the livelihood of many persons and generations to come. "The dynamiting must be totally eliminated; no one should dynamite the coral reefs. In the past, fishers could catch very large fish, but today most of the catch consists of small ones,...

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Marc Panton, says earning from the fishing sector can be increased, if fisherfolk adhere to the best practices the Government is promoting. "Fisherfolk can make more return, but we have to look at how we are going to develop our fisheries sector in a way that your children will...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that farmers will reap tremendous benefits from the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP) Phase Two, which was launched in St. Elizabeth on Thursday (July 1). "We have over 25,000 farmers in St. Elizabeth, and I see this as an empowerment mechanism to empower our farmers to use their...