In its continued drive to increase and spread knowledge about the devastating impact of the theft of agricultural produce on the country’s farmers, communities and economy, the Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit has launched its essay and jingle competition. The competition, which closes on January 31, is geared towards young Jamaicans aged nine to 18. Entries should be submitted to plpu@moa.gov.jm...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be embarking on a campaign next year aimed at increasing the production and consumption of tilapia as part of measures to grow the aquaculture industry. Making the disclosure after a tour of the Longville Park Farms in Clarendon on Monday (December 28), Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, noted that enormous opportunities exist for...

The Government has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to continue supporting farmers through the Buy-Back Programme. The initiative aims to purchase excess produce from farmers and assist those who are unable to sell excess produce due to the downturn in hotel operations caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) across the globe. The assistance programme also...

Thirty-five small farmers and 26 operators of local economic initiatives (LEI) in St. James got the opportunity to market their goods during a community market and business fair staged by the Social Development Commission (SDC) on Thursday (December 17). The event, held at Montego Park Estate in Ironshore, was the third for the parish and targeted businesses under the SDC’s...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, on Wednesday (December 16), handed over conditional ownership for water harvesting infrastructure to 12 water user (farming) groups in seven parishes across the island. These include reservoirs, catchment and storage tanks (both on-farm and central) as well as drip irrigation systems, which were constructed in Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Mary, St. Thomas, St. Ann,...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is on a major drive to increase the use of solar energy to power its irrigation schemes across the island, in order to reduce operational expenditure and the reliance on fossil fuels. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, said it is anticipated that within the next two years, irrigation systems operated by the National Irrigation...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, on Friday (December 11), handed over equipment, valued $29 million, to the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) Limited and Water Resources Authority (WRA), under the Essex Valley Agriculture Project. The NIC received a backhoe valued $24 million, while the WRA was presented with a 2020 Nissan Qashqai SUV, priced at $5 million, to...

Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, Thursday (December 10) officially launched the Southern Plains Agricultural Development (SPAD) Project, which seeks to increase productivity and access to markets for farmers in St. Catherine and Clarendon. In his address at the virtual ceremony, Prime Minister Holness said the SPAD Project is a direct response to the need to repurpose lands previously...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, says he has tasked two agencies in the Ministry to spearhead a programme to ensure the use of agricultural lands for farming. According to the Minister, the “highest threat” to farm lands is lack of use, adding that good lands are available for food cultivation, but persons holding them have not been...