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The state-owned Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings Limited (SCJH) has commenced the upgrading of its three remaining sugar factories to meet the 2010 crop, using funds from the US$15 million (J$1.3 billion) pre-shipment financing arrangement with Italian firm, Eridania Suisse. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, confirmed at a press briefing at the Bernard Lodge Sugar Estate, St....

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wesley Hughes, says that the near 10 percent increase in agricultural production in the April-June 2009 quarter, was more than mere recovery from recent disasters. "The industry benefitted from the Government's productivity programme, and we saw significant increases in some areas, for example, onion production was up 228 percent, Irish...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has assured farmers that his Ministry will not allow the importation of foodstuff to drive them out of agriculture. "We have launched a programme, where we are now reclaiming some of the crops that we used to grow and grow well, by helping farmers with the best practices, with the training,...

Agriculture and tourism continue to be the strongest performers in the Jamaican economy, according to the Bank of Jamaica's Quarterly Economic Report for April-June, which was released Wednesday (August 12). The Report said that Agriculture continues to be one of the few sectors to record positive growth, despite the impact of the global economic crisis. Its recovery is expected to...

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) is placing much emphasis on loans for agricultural projects. According to General Manager for Approved Financial Institutions (AFI), Emmy Lewars, "in all our credit lines, we have put agriculture in them to facilitate softer interest rates for agricultural projects. And at this time, we should emphasise 'grow what we eat, and eat what we...

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has embarked on a programme to assist farmers to gain the maximum benefit from agricultural production, and agri-processing. The institution, through its Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, is using research to put the agricultural sector in a position to supply the food needs of the country, and to extract medicinal ingredients from...

The Coffee Industry Board (CIB) will be providing technical assistance to coffee farmers to boost production and productivity, so as to return the sector to profitability. Director General of the CIB, Christopher Gentles, said that a number of fora will be held, which will equip farmers with the techniques to minimise crop losses. "They (fora) will deal with proper use...

Nineteen-year- old Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Junior Champion Farmer 2009, Rahim Baccas, believes that, with some more effort and dedication, Jamaica can achieve food sufficiency and wealth creation in agriculture. The teenage farmer, who was crowned at last week-end's annual Denbigh Agricultural Show in Clarendon, told JIS News that he plans to study agriculture at the tertiary level. "(And) it...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, has said that the Government is committed to clearing all obstacles to boosting agricultural production and productivity, as the country charts its way out of the economic recession. "Whatever it is that may have been holding us back, whether it is the bureaucracy. we have the capacity, we have the skill to drive agriculture,"...

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...