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The Government is putting the final touches on a new banana policy, which will enable small farmers to secure a greater share of the local market. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, speaking at a press conference at his Hope Garden's office in Kingston today (July 21), said that small farmers were finding it difficult to compete...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting a 22.3 per cent increase in domestic food crop production for the second quarter of 2009, compared to the similar period last year. At a press conference, held at the Ministry on Old Hope Road, in Kingston, today (July 21), Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, said the recovery and...

Cocoa farmers and manufacturers in St. Mary will be uniting their efforts to resuscitate cocoa production in the parish. Manager of the Richmond Cocoa Fermentary, Lance Jones, said that the farmers were energised by a technical forum held earlier this month, and are fully committed to resuscitating the cocoa industry in order to take full advantage of the lucrative markets,...

The Food Hygiene Bureau (FHB) will be hosting Jamaica's Fourth International Food Safety Conference, July 30-31 at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston. Dubbed 'Food Safety and Security...the Future', the two-day event will feature international and world reknown food safety experts, who will bring together a wealth of knowledge and information on the latest and best practices in these areas....

Jamaica is being urged to look to increase food exports to the United Sates (US), to take advantage of the high demand in the ethnic market. Ambassador to the US, Anthony Johnson, addressing the National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations (NAJASO) Ball on July 19 at the Hilton Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, put forward the proposal as one of...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has informed that the first phase of a project, to develop a parametric insurance scheme for farmers, has been completed, allowing the pilot to be implemented next year. The project, which is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank, allows for the development of a payment...

The National Advisory Committee on Praedial Larceny has completed its report and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is moving to implement its recommendations. "A team involving representatives of the Agriculture Ministry, the Ministry of National Security, the police and the Attorney General's Office, is formulating a concrete plan of action to improve enforcement and to sensitise the judiciary regarding...

Increasing the production of goat meat and mutton continues to be a high priority for the Government, said Minister of State for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson. "The fact is, in the case of mutton, we are satisfying only a minute percentage of consumption," he noted. Mr. Hutchinson, who was making his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in...

The Government is pressing on with its sugar transformation programme, to address the social, economic and environmental impact of the divestment process on the sugar workers. So far, the Sugar Transformation Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has registered approximately 85 per cent of the displaced workers, who will be entitled to a grant to assist in starting...

The Government has negotiated interim funding, totalling US$15 million(J$1.3 billion), with Italian firm, Eridania Suisse, to ensure the continued operation of three of its sugar estates- Frome, Monymusk and Bernard Lodge. The money will be used to undertake field maintenance work on the three estates, as well as preparatory works for the Frome and Monymusk factories. Frome is in Westmoreland,...

The way has been cleared for the Government's planned divestment of the Hampden Sugar Estate in Trelawny. Hampden Estate sought an injunction, until the Supreme Court heard a civil suit it had brought against the Government. The suit, if granted, would have barred the Government from subdividing and consequently privatizing the estate. The Court, however, refused the application for the...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has urged parents to sensitise their children to the need to eat more locally produced foods. Dr. Tufton said that there are multiple benefits to be gained from this policy, including saving foreign exchange, promoting employment and creating a healthier population. "It is so fundamental for us to support agriculture, not...