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A decisive move by government to approve regulations that mandate the use of ethanol as a replacement for Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MBTE) in gasoline, has allowed Jamaica to meet an obligation to the European Union Sector Support Budget Programme for the transformation of the sugar industry. As a signatory to the African Caribbean and Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) Cotonou Partnership...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, has said that his Ministry has teamed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to reduce the number of import waivers granted for agricultural produce. "The Ministry of Agriculture has been working closely with me in cutting down on the number of waivers that importers want from the Ministry of...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon Audley Shaw, has said that his Ministry is widening the Development Bank of Jamaica's (DBJ) credit window to facilitate lending to farmers through credit unions. "What we have done is to suggest to the Development Bank of Jamaica that some of the money that is to on lend, should not just go...

With sugar production officially on at Frome, Westmoreland, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has expressed confidence that the factory's 2009/10 production targets will be met. Dr. Tufton made the disclosure at a Press Conference at the factory on Wednesday (December 9), following a tour of the operations, including the fields, the mills, processing, production and bagging...

The success of the Jamaica Pride Project was extolled at a dissemination event held in Mango Valley, St. Mary, on Friday (December 4). The project, which has run from November 2008 to December 2009, is funded by the European Union (EU) Banana Support Programme Rural Diversification and Enterprise Programme. Jamaica Pride is a collaboration between Coventry University in the United...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, has called on farmers to register with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), in order to reap the many benefits and support that can be sourced through the entity. The State Minister made the call as he addressed the second staging of the Westmoreland Parish Expo and...

By the end of this month, a submission will go to Cabinet for a review of the Government's contract with former banker and business consultant, Aubyn Hill, to provide technical guidance for the divestment of the island's five sugar estates. This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, in the House of Representatives on December...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, is assuring that negotiations are proceeding for the divestment of the country's sugar estates and assets. "Up to this morning (Dec. 1) I was being consulted based on discussions that are taking place between Jamaica and Italy. It has been a constant flow of discussion and information gathering. The experts that...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' Financial Access for Responsible Members (FARM) programme was launched on Monday (November 30), at the Claremont Anglican Church Hall in St. Ann. The programme, which is being carried out in collaboration with Approved Financial Institutions (AFIs), provides monetary assistance for farming projects. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, explained that the...

General Manager of Jamaica Cane Products Sales Limited, Karl James, has said there are still good prospects for Jamaica's sugar cane industry, despite the many challenges. Mr. James, who was in London last week to meet with a number of entities relating to the sector, including the International Sugar Organisation, pointed out that sugar prices on the European market are...

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Glendon Harris, is urging citizens to actively support the 'Eat Jamaica' campaign by consuming more locally-produced food. "In the same breath, we also urge the farmers to increase production and offer high quality, value-added products, with attractive packaging," Mr. Harris said, as he addressed the 6th anniversary function of the 'Eat Jamaica' campaign...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, wants potential investors to start viewing forestry as a viable investment option. The appeal was made in his message, delivered by Chairman of the Forestry Advisory Board, Mr. Paul Seaton, at the opening of the Forestry Department's Seventh Annual Exposition, at its head office in Kingston on Thursday (November 26). Dr....