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Jamaica will host the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture's (IICA) Ministerial conference in Montego Bay, St. James, in October. This will be the first time that the conference will be held in the Caribbean and Ministers of Agriculture and Secretaries of Agriculture from 34 countries are expected to attend. During a courtesy call on Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce...

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says that his Ministry will spend $159 million, this year, on post harvest care and support facilities for farmers. Dr. Tufton said that the project will address one of the greatest challenges facing the sector today, waste and losses after reaping, which amount to as much as some 40% of total annual production....

Newly appointed head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' Agro-Investment Corporation, Dr. David Lowe, says that a number of initiatives has been taken by Jamaica to ensure food safety standards, to facilitate global trade in Jamaican food. Dr. Lowe said that among these initiatives was the establishment of the Jamaica Import/Export Inspection Centre, which was opened in June to...

Ministers of Agriculture from across the western Hemisphere, and other stakeholders in the sector, are scheduled to meet in Montego Bay, St. James, from October 25 to 31, for the 'Week of Agriculture and Rural Life of the Americas' Meeting. The week's main activities are the meeting of the Hemispheric Forum of Ministerial Delegates of Agriculture, the Fifth Ministerial Meeting...

Farmers attending the Jamaica Agricultural Society's (JAS) Denbigh Agro-Industrial Show this week-end will enjoy a number of firsts, including access to micro-financing from Jamaica National. This was announced at a JIS Think Tank Tuesday (July 28th), by outgoing President of the JAS and Chairman of the Denbigh Show Committee, Senator Norman Grant. Senator Grant said that Jamaica National, one of...

Jamaica has been commended for achieving a 22.3 per cent increase in domestic food crop production for the second quarter of 2009, by Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA), Dr. Chelston Brathwaite. Last week, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, announced that the last three quarters saw consecutive periods of expansion when...

Well known retired civil servant, Ruby Blake, mother of Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Christopher Tufton, died last night (July 23) in the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston. Ms. Blake, who spent over 30 years as a civil servant working with the Ministry of Labour, had been admitted to the hospital...

As the parish of Manchester seeks to pursue other economic opportunities, following the downturn in bauxite production, General Manager of the Christiana Potato Growers Association, Alvin Murray, is emphasising that agriculture can boost prosperity in the parish. He cited the many untapped areas in the agricultural sector where persons can earn a viable living, while addressing a seminar on July...

The facility for the rearing of the Anagyrus wasp, which is a natural enemy of the pink hibiscus mealy bug (PHMB), was officially opened yesterday (July 22) at the Veterinary Services Division in Kingston, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries steps up efforts to rid the island of the pest. The facility, which was refurbished at a cost of...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Christopher Tufton, has announced five key appointments in keeping with plans to strengthen the Ministry's research, productivity and investment promotion capabilities. Speaking at a press conference Tuesday (July 21), at the Ministry in Kingston, Dr. Tufton announced that Lieutenant Commander Richard Russell has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Fisheries Agency. The...

Agricultural production in St. Mary is expected to be boosted through the acquisition of a New Holland tractor by the St. Mary office of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). The tractor will be made available to the farmers of the parish to assist in land preparation. RADA Parish Manager for St. Mary, Victor Edwards, told JIS News that the...

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...