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A total of $51.3 million has been allocated to the Rural Competitiveness Programme in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. The programme, which is funded by the Government and the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB), seeks to provide support that will result in the development of a modern, efficient and internationally competitive agricultural...

Some $129.5 million has been allocated to the Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction project this fiscal year as the government seeks to reduce the risk associated with natural disasters in vulnerable areas. This is contained in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. As stated in the Estimates, the project seeks to...

Efforts by the Government to increase agricultural production and farmers' earnings through improved irrigation management, is being boosted through a $193 million allocation to the National Irrigation Development Project. As stated in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives, the money will go towards the installation of pipes, fittings and appurtenances at New Forest/Duff...

As part of measures to improve the competitiveness of small coffee producers in the central and northern regions of Jamaica, a total of $23.4 million has been allocated to the Competitive Coffee Enterprises programme in the Ministry of Agriculture for the fiscal year 2010/11. As stated in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives,...

All is set for the 2010 staging of the Montpelier Agricultural and Industrial Show on Easter Monday (April 5), which will showcase the best of agricultural production in St. James, while providing fun and entertainment for patrons. Organised by the St. James Association of Branch Societies (ABS) of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), the event will be held under the...

The matter of putting unutilised and underutilised arable lands into agricultural production, dominated the Town Hall meeting, which Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, held with farmers, at Breezes Hotel, in Trelawny, on March 23. Dr. Tufton also outlined the Arable Lands Irrigated and Growing for the Nation (ALIGN) project, through which the Ministry plans to revolutionise...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that the Government is exploring the possibility of implanting microchips in farm animals to ensure traceability of meat at all times. He said that this technique is already being used in some countries around the world and Jamaica is looking into its use. Dr. Tufton was responding to questions...

For the period January to November 2009, there was an increase in food exports of 3.2 per cent, moving from US$107 million in 2008 to US$111 million in 2009. This was announced today (March 23), by Export Business Development and Information Services Officer at the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA), Mr. Royce Britton, at a press briefing, held at the JEA's...

Training sessions for goat farmers were held at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Conference Room in Mandeville, Manchester, and at the Sam Motta Demonstration Training Centre, in Knockpatrick, Manchester, on March 17. The training was carried out under the Strengthening of Jamaica's Food Security Programme, funded by the European Union, through its Food Facility Project, and conducted by the...

Local exporters are moving to take advantage of provisions under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed by some Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, and the European Union (EU). In the search for new export markets, the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA) has submitted a proposal to the European Union to administer a project to create a framework for sustainable development and expansion...

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...