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Two agricultural projects, valued at a total cost of $125 million, were officially launched in St. Mary on July 21, will provide support for displaced banana farmers and revitalise the cocoa industry. The initiatives: Project CARE - Catapulting Agriculture into Rural Enterprise, and the Cocoa Sector Revitalisation Project, are funded by the European Union (EU) Banana Support Programme. Speaking at...

The long whispered rebirth of Jamaica's bauxite/alumina sector became evident on July 22, as the Ewarton Alumina Refinery in St. Catherine was officially reopened. The plant is expected to start up with the proapproximately 321,000 tonnes, of its total capacity of approximately 625,000 tonnes of alumina, this year. It will employ 629 workers, raising employment hopes at Rusal's WINDALCO and...

The Forestry Department on Monday (July 19) officially opened its new training facility, which will be used to train staff in both forestry and customer service standards. The facility will also aid in the development of forestry reserves, both locally and regionally, through the provision of critical information gained from ongoing research activities. Speaking at the official opening and dedication...

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Councillor Glendon Harris, has said that the farmers' group must become engaged in a process of renewal, in order to empower its members. "To contribute greatly to improving the standard of living of their families, their communities and the entire nation, each branch society must begin to take charge of community representation," the...

Expansion work to almost double wind generating capacity at Wigton Wind Farm, Manchester, is now far advanced, following ground breaking two months ago. By November, nine new 2 megawatt Vestas V80 wind turbines will come into operation. Wigton will also open a Resource Centre, to provide technical information on wind energy generation. The expansions will double Wigton Windfarm's renewable energy...

One of the United Kingdom's (UK) oldest and most prestigious chocolatiers, Charbonnel et Walker, is interested in using Jamaican cocoa in the production of its range of handcrafted chocolates. Next month, the Chairman of the company, Galvin Weston, will be visiting Jamaica for meetings with representatives of JAMPRO and coco industry authorities, to look at potential joint venture investment in...

Executive Chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA), Ambassador Derrick Heaven, has said that the sugar industry has many economic possibilities in Jamaica, once it is managed well with the requisite capital. "The sugar industry has a bright future; we have bottomed out, and are now on the way up. The linkages with this industry are tremendous, and Jamaica has...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has welcomed local implementation of the Competitiveness Coffee Enterprises programme for farmers in several of the island's coffee producing regions. The programme, a joint initiative between Jamaica and Guatemala, aims to improve the competitiveness of coffee farmers in both countries, while developing the administrative capacity and value-added component of the beneficiary co-operatives...

As part of efforts to 'go green' and reduce its impact on the environment, the Mavis Bank coffee factory, in rural St. Andrew, is to implement a waste water management system. Speaking with JIS News during a tour of the factory on July 15, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Senator Norman Grant said the system is very significant, as the facility...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) must be restructured to enable the organisation to better serve the interests of farmers. Giving the keynote address at the JAS 115th Annual General Meeting, held at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon on July14, Dr. Tufton contended that the body "was too heavy...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says the long term sustainability of Jamaican coffee is contingent on local stakeholders maintaining consistently high standards in quality and production. He said this is key, if Jamaica's reputation as a leading global coffee producer is to be maintained and the stakeholders, primarily the farmers, marketers and retailers are to reap benefits....

Their Excellencies, Governor-General the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, and Lady Allen, made an official visit to the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Thursday (July 15) to get a firsthand view of the facility. Nestled deep in the Blue Mountains, at an elevation of approximately 3,000 feet, the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory is Jamaica's largest and only fully integrated Jamaica Blue...