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PORT ANTONIO — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry, says the Ministry is working closely with the banana industry, to develop value added products to diversify production and increase earnings. He said that the Ministry is assisting the industry to acquire facilities to aid the value added process. He also disclosed that an agreement has...

KINGSTON — The first of five batches of green bean Jamaican coffee, with an approximate sale value of US$425,000, will be shipped to China soon. The shipment, comprising 16,500 kilograms of Blue Mountain Coffee, should have left Jamaica Tuesday April 5, but has been delayed, and is now expected to arrive in China in early May, a Ministry of Agriculture...

PORT ANTONIO — The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) held its fifth Farmers' Market in St. Mary at the Trinity boxing plant, in Pt. Maria, on April 2. As was the case with those held previously, patrons turned up early for the event in an effort take advantage of reduced prices on offer for the crops in the market. Over...

MANDEVILLE — More than 500 residents from communities in Central Manchester, which once depended on bauxite, are to benefit from a sustainable agricultural project, which is being funded by the Government of Japan through a grant of $8,876,150.25 (US$103,407). The project, which is being implemented by the Northern Caribbean University (NCU), involves the setting up of three greenhouses on mined-out...

MANDEVILLE — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that the Ministry is looking to change the day on which Farmers’ Markets are held to avoid conflict with regular market days. “Farmers markets are not intended to compete with the regular market and as a consequence, I am going to talk with some of the higglers...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has underscored the value added aspect to agricultural production, noting that this now forms part of the philosophy guiding government’s decisions in building the agricultural sector. He noted that in every country where agriculture is doing well, primary agricultural production is being used as raw material. He was...

MONTEGO BAY — There is a new addition to the list of rum products being manufactured locally, with the official introduction of “Rum Fire” to the white rum market on Thursday March 31. Rum Fire, is being produced at the Hampden Estate, Trelawny, well known for the quality of its rum, and will be distributed exclusively by Red Stripe.  It...

MANDEVILLE – Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Christopher Tufton, is urging local producers to seize opportunities created by the global food shortages, by investing in increased output. Speaking at a Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA)/Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) sponsored training and capacity building project for farmers, at Brooks Park, Mandeville, Wednesday (March 30), he noted that with the recent...

KINGSTON — A total of $100 million is to be spent on the implementation of the recommendations of the Sugar Industry Commission of Enquiry, which have been approved by Cabinet. The process will be spearheaded by the Sugar Transformation Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and is expected to be undertaken from 2011 to 2014, with funding from...

PORT ANTONIO – Plans are progressing smoothly for the 25th staging of the annual St. Mary Agri Expo, to be held at the St. Mary Sports Club in Annotto Bay, on Easter Monday, April 25. The event, which is being organised by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), will be held under the theme: ‘Grow what we eat - Eat what...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, RADA,  is to host a targeted farmers’ market in Negril, Westmoreland at the Norman Manley Sea Park (near round about) this Wednesday, March 30, 2011, from 6a.m. to 6p.m.  This, as it seeks to take-off the excess in several primary crops which still exists. The market will cater...

OCHO RIOS – St. Ann farmers are lauding the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Root Crop Project, and the input of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in helping them to improve the quality of crop production.“ This project involves a number of root crops, mainly yam, coco, sweet potato, Irish potato and ginger,” Manager for RADA’s St. Ann branch,...