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Despite the prolonged drought affecting Jamaica, the agricultural sector grew steadily during 2009, registering the largest increase in production in the fourth quarter of the year, of 33.5 per cent. Speaking at Wednesday's (March 17) Post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that the fourth quarter for 2009 marked the sixth...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon Daryl Vaz, reports that the agricultural sector recorded its sixth consecutive quarter of growth, October- December, 2009. Mr. Vaz noted the achievement as particularly significant, as the island was under persistent drought conditions for several months. The Minister, who was updating journalists on matters considered by Cabinet during its March 8 meeting, said that...

Young Manchester farmer, Nicholas Powell, has received a sponsorship package from Newport-Fersan Jamaica Limited, which will help to boost productivity of his farm in Coffee Grove in the parish. The package includes a monthly stipend to assist with farming and other key expenses, fertiliser, pesticide, and agricultural equipment. The young farmer, who is a 2009 recipient of the Governor-General's Youth...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has emphasised the importance of proper and effective management in the local sugar industry, in order to enable the country to reap maximum benefits. Speaking at the launch of the Government's $2.1 billion European Union (EU) funded Sugar Workers' Economic Support Programme, at the Bernard Lodge sugar factory, St. Catherine, on March...

The economic turmoil being experienced by countries worldwide, has made the issue of food security top priority for their governments. It is widely accepted that countries which are not totally dependent on imports to feed their population will be in a better position to emerge more speedily from the economic recession. With this in mind, the Government, through the Ministry...

Some 101 displaced sugar workers, formerly of the Frome Sugar Estate in Westmoreland, have been selected to receive special grants amounting to $16 million, through the government's Sugar Transformation Unit. The initiative, funded by the European Union, is geared towards providing alternative employment and economic support to over 800 sugar workers who have been laid off from all the sugar...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has praised the sugar industry stakeholders for the level of maturity being shown towards the Government's efforts to transform the sector into a viable and sustainable one. He said that the administration has had to take some tough decisions on the industry's future against the background of changing global developments and "all...

United Kingdom (UK)-based sugar processing and marketing company Tate and Lyle has expressed "very strong" interest in investing in Jamaica's sugar industry, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw has said. He made the revelation today (March 11) at the Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) UK-Jamaica Investment Forum at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London. Mr. Shaw,...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has disbursed grants totaling some $51 million, to approximately 300 ex-sugar workers who have been displaced by the restructuring of the local industry. The grants form part of the Government's Economic Mitigation Programme for Displaced Sugar Workers, to be funded over the next five years by a $2.1 billion provision, which was negotiated by...

A unique programme to take Caribbean food and drink on a culinary tour across the United Kingdom (UK), was launched in London, yesterday (March 9), at a special ceremony, held at the Jamaican High Commission. Chief Executive Officer of World Foods and founder of the event, Mr. Derek Morrison, told JIS News that the initiative, which was started in the...

Women continue to come together and pool resources to establish cottage industries and other worthwhile projects, to empower themselves and forge ahead in the male-dominated business world. One such profitable venture is the new improved Flower Hill Producers Co-operative Society Limited, located in Flower Hill, St. James, which is involved in the production of bammies for the local and export...

The Clarendon-based Ebony Park HEART Academy on Friday (March 5) unveiled its agro eco-tourism project, which is a combination of nature and farm-related activities to attract locals and visitors to the island. The launch was held during Farm Fest 2010, which is Ebony Park's annual agricultural show. Through the project, visitors are encouraged to experience agricultural life firsthand and participate...