Under the legislative programme for 2024/2025, several key pieces of agricultural legislation will be amended, says Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen. Delivering the 2024/2025 Throne Speech in Gordon House, today (February 15), the Governor-General informed that these will include replacement of the Animals (Diseases and Importation) Act with the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2024, replacement...

Goat farmers in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, are benefiting from support to improve the health of their animals and boost meat and milk production. The assistance, which is being provided under the Canada-funded Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) project, includes technical training and goat tech pack distribution. The tech packs contain specialised tools and products to safeguard the animals...

Twenty students with hearing impairments, who participated in the just concluded Climate Smart Agriculture Greenhouse Production training programme at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD), are now equipped with the requisite certified skills to undertake agricultural engagements within their communities. The intensive 10-week programme, which was held at the CCCD in Knockpatrick, Manchester, was organised by the Rural...

Members of the public who need to utilise drone technology for various projects, can access the service at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE). CASE President, Dr. Derrick Deslandes, said that in addition to course offerings, persons can also engage with the institution to use its drones for a range of tasks and solutions. “If you are a...

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, says despite experiencing a significant decline during the first three quarters of 2023, the agricultural sector is showing “tremendous resilience, and the figures bear that out”. His pronouncement comes against the background of a 2023 preliminary fourth quarter out-turn for produce totalling 203,288 tonnes, following declines of 9.5, 11.5 and 11.7...

The Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings (SCJH) has been tasked with accelerating the pace of reallocating lands formerly used for sugar-cane cultivation into alternative agricultural endeavours. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, made the announcement during a press briefing at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston on Wednesday (January 31). “I must commend the SCJH, because we have...

The Agricultural Produce (Amendment) Act, which will facilitate the imposition of harsher penalties for praedial larceny, has been gazetted and is now in effect. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, made the disclosure during a press briefing at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston on Wednesday (January 31). The maximum fine for breaches under the law has moved...

Head of the Praedial Larceny Prevention Coordination Unit, Superintendent Oral Pascoe, is urging farmers affected by praedial larceny to make reports to the police. “We have actually seen in some parishes where reports have gone up significantly. So, for example, in Trelawny we are seeing where there are over 80 reports of praedial larceny. Previously there was none,” Superintendent Pascoe...

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is looking to attract more young people to work and invest in the sector. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, said that getting the youth involved in agriculture is critical in securing the future of farming and food security on the island. “I would say that’s important. I’ve always said to people, why not...