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The St. Mary office of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), has expressed satisfaction at the response to the farmers' market, which was recently held in the parish, as part of the national effort to assist farmers to get rid of the oversupply of certain crops. Held at the Trinity Boxing Plant in Port Maria, the crops available were sweet...

Secretary Manager of the Cocoa Industry Board, Steven Watson, wants more individuals to invest in the product, to ensure its viability and sustainability within the agricultural sector. “The industry needs investments to grow; investment in farms, investment in upgrading fermenting facilities and investment in capturing more of the value chain, locally,” he said. Mr. Watson was speaking at a workshop...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has invited consumers in Kingston and St. Catherine to a Farmers' Market to be held at the Portmore Heart Academy on Friday (February 4). Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, said the farmers' markets are being held as a corrective measure to address the glut in some produce. He added that the...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton says despite the challenges which the agricultural sector faced during the 2009/2010 period, the industry recovered well to demonstrate sustainable growth. “Jamaica's agricultural sector continues to move forward, with a continuation of the steady increases achieved over the last three years,” he said, while delivering the 2009/2010 annual review...

The Papaya Mealybug which was detected in the Caribbean in 1993, has been found in Jamaica. The pest was detected in September of last year and confirmed in October in several residential communities in St. Andrew. These areas are:- Mannings Hill Road, Hughenden, and Constant Spring. It is not yet clear how the pest got into the country. To date,...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries plans to develop a comprehensive programme for effective glut management and response. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, speaking at his Hope Gardens office in Kingston on January 25, said the initiatives are being developed to support the $50 million Glut Management Fund established last year.  “There are initiatives (such as) cold storage and...

Consumers in St. Ann are lauding the one day farmers’ market held on Friday (January 21) at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) parish office in Claremont, calling for more such events to be held. Scores of residents supported the market, which was one of six organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries at various centres across the island,...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that farm roads will not be neglected under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP). He said quality rural roads not only serve residents, but improve access to farms and markets thereby contributing to rural development and national food security. “We are not going to neglect the small communities because...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that the government’s objective of developing a commercially viable and sustainable sugar cane sector was on target. Addressing a two-day regional seminar put on by the European Union’s Accompanying Measures for former Sugar Protocal Countries (AMSP) organization, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Montego Bay, Thursday (January 20), Dr. Tufton noted...

Marketing Consultant with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Derrick Deslandes has attributed the high supply of locally produced fresh vegetables to the successful production thrust by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; the tenacity of local farmers; and good weather. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on January 13, Mr. Deslandes said that consumers should take advantage of the...

PORT ANTONIO — Radical Farms, which produces tomatoes for the local and exports markets, was officially opened on Wednesday (January 12) by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton. Operated by Ryan Chung, the farm, located on the outskirts of Port Maria in St. Mary, utilises greenhouse technology in the cultivation of the crop.  The facility has been...

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....