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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...

Some $30 million will be spent this year to refurbish two soil labs at the Bodles Research Station, St. Catherine, and the Rural Physical Planning Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which deal with soil disease testing and soil nutrients profiling, respectively. Making his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives Tuesday (July 7),...

Farmer, businessman and Councillor for the Maroon Town division of the St. James Parish Council, Glendon Harris, has been elected President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS). Mr. Harris defeated his opponent, the President of the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association (AIJCA), Allan Rickards, by 210 votes to 205, in the most closely contested election for the leadership in many...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said the Government remains committed to improving the lot of the Jamaican farmer, through continuous innovations, designed to foster the viability of the sector. Speaking at the 114th annual general meeting of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), at the Denbigh show grounds in Clarendon on July 8, he informed that...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be instituting a number of post-harvesting measures this year, to help farmers grow better produce and ensure that consumers get more value for their money. As a first step, a unit will be established in the Ministry to deal with the development of post-harvest infrastructure. Five wholesale market facilities will be introduced, at...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has reiterated his call for more young persons to consider agriculture as a viable career option. Dr.Tufton noted that the average age of the Jamaican farmer is 50 but, while the country has the greatest respect for experienced farmers, the future of farming must rest with a younger generation taking over....

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, wants law enforcement authorities to get tougher on praedial larcenists. He told a July 8 Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House that almost $5 billion is lost each year through farm theft and stressed that the issue should be treated as priority. Dr. Tufton informed that he has already met with...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that he will be seeking greater collaboration with the private sector this year, particularly in setting up proper post-harvesting infrastructure. Among the areas to be focussed on are reaping, warehousing or storage, grading and sorting, value-added processing, marketing and distribution. One of the projects he pointed to is the...