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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, has said that the 12 per cent growth in agriculture in 2009 resulted in the creation of 10,000 new jobs, bringing total employment in the sector to 235,000. "It is important for us to know and remind ourselves of the importance of the agricultural sector. That it contributes, through the...

Revisions to the Fisheries Act, currently being pursued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to facilitate development of the sector, are at an advanced stage, Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dr. Marc Panton, has disclosed. Speaking at the closing ceremony for Improving Jamaica's Agricultural Productivity Project's (IJAPP) fisheries extension training course at the Fisheries Division, Marcus Garvey Drive,...

The Government is to establish a Food Safety Agency, which will have sole responsibility for monitoring food imports, to ensure their wholesomeness for consumption, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr. Donovan Stanberry, has disclosed. Speaking with JIS News, Mr. Stanberry informed that establishment of the facility is expected to reduce to one, the number of entities,...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding announced today (April 20), that Cabinet has approved an arrangement with Tate & Lyle for the provision of 100,000 tons of sugar, with prepayment of US$26 million this year, and US$20 million next year, to facilitate planting of the crop and preparation of the factories for production. Making his contribution to the 2010/11 Budget...

Praedial larceny was the main focus of a meeting among agricultural stakeholders, held at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Training Centre at the Denbigh showground, in Clarendon, last week. The theme of the forum was: 'Praedial Larceny - Possible Solutions to the Single Greatest Deterrent to Agricultural Development', and taking part were representatives of the Jamaica School of Agriculture/College of Agriculture,...

With the 2009/2010 sugar crop season at the Frome Estate to officially close in a few days, Operations Manager, Mr. Victor Wright, said that production targets will be met and will most likely be surpassed. Harvesting at Frome started on December 4, 2009 and is scheduled to officially end on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Mr. Wright, informed however, that reaping...

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Mr. Glendon Harris, has said that the country's farmers must adopt modern agricultural methods to maximize production and improve competitiveness. Addressing the official handing over of a $2 million greenhouse and supplementary irrigation equipment to members of the Dromilly Agricultural Cooperative Society in Trelawny on Thursday (April 15), the JAS President stated that...

The 20 farmers affiliated with the Dromilly Agricultural Cooperative Society in Trelawny now have greenhouse technology, which is expected to boost their crop production. The facility and supplementary irrigation equipment were provided at a cost of approximately $2 million through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Director of the CDF, Ms. Moveta Munroe...

Jamaican companies that participated in last month's International Food and Drink Expo in Birmingham, England, are reporting success in making new business contacts and promoting a range of local Jamaican food and drink products in the United Kingdom, European and wider international markets. Some 10 Jamaican companies covering a range of products including beverages; sauces, spices and condiments; breads, biscuits...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry, launched Farmers' Month activities Wednesday (April 7), with a charge to farmers' organisations to renew and restructure themselves. Explaining his call, during the launch at the Jamaica Agricultural Society's (JAS) office in downtown Kingston, Mr. Stanberry noted that oganisations, such as the JAS, needed to divorce themselves from commercial...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon J.C. Hutchinson, has challenged the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) to utilize its properties as grading and marketing outlets for farm products. Mr. Hutchinson said that the move would supplement attempts by his Ministry to assist farmers with the marketing of their produce, through the placing of marketing officers...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that he will be looking at measures to improve the horticultural industry, which has seen a decline since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Dr. Tufton, who was addressing the 47th staging of the St. Elizabeth Horticultural Society Annual Flower Show, held at Independence Park, in Black River, on April 5,...