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General Manager of the Banana Board, Janet Conie, speaks at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’.
General Manager of the Banana Board, Janet Conie, speaks at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’.

Banana Farmers Urged to Increase Surveillance for Pests and Diseases

Banana and plantain farmers are being encouraged to increase surveillance for pests and diseases that can affect their crops. General Manager of the Banana Board, Janet Conie, told JIS News that preempting diseases and pests with proper preparation can protect...
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (third left), hands the first-place trophy to the 4-H Girl of the Year, Natoya Williams (third right), while Boy of the Year, Ishmael Smythe (fourth right), looks on. The two, who were crowned during the National 4-H Achievement Day Expo at the Denbigh Showground on May 12, also received a monetary prize. Sharing in the moment are (from left) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence; Acting Executive Director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Garfield Ewart; Chairman of the Board of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Collin Virgo and Emcee, Tishauna Mullings.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (third left), hands the first-place trophy to the 4-H Girl of the Year, Natoya Williams (third right), while Boy of the Year, Ishmael Smythe (fourth right), looks on. The two, who were crowned during the National 4-H Achievement Day Expo at the Denbigh Showground on May 12, also received a monetary prize. Sharing in the moment are (from left) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence; Acting Executive Director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Garfield Ewart; Chairman of the Board of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Collin Virgo and Emcee, Tishauna Mullings.

Agriculture Minister Commends Jamaica 4-H Clubs for Championing Youth in Agriculture
Land Management Officer at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Robert Tulloch (left), with Compost Expo patron, Carolyn Stewart. The Expo was held at the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s head office in Kingston on May 12.
Land Management Officer at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Robert Tulloch (left), with Compost Expo patron, Carolyn Stewart. The Expo was held at the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s head office in Kingston on May 12.

Backyard Gardeners Encouraged to Use Compost to Boost Plant Health
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right); Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Jamaica Broilers Group, Christopher Levy (left) and Vice President, Best Dressed Chicken Division, Dave Fairman, show off baby chicks during a ceremony for the reopening of the upgraded Cumberland Hatchery in Portmore, St. Catherine, on May 10. Joining them is Vice President of the Hi-Pro Division, Colonel (Retired) Jaimie Ogilvie.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right); Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Jamaica Broilers Group, Christopher Levy (left) and Vice President, Best Dressed Chicken Division, Dave Fairman, show off baby chicks during a ceremony for the reopening of the upgraded Cumberland Hatchery in Portmore, St. Catherine, on May 10. Joining them is Vice President of the Hi-Pro Division, Colonel (Retired) Jaimie Ogilvie.

Best Dressed Chicken’s $200-Million Hatchery Upgrade A Boost for Poultry Sector
This St. Thomas resident displays some of the onions from the massive yield produced by farmers in the parish.
This St. Thomas resident displays some of the onions from the massive yield produced by farmers in the parish.

Prime Minister Lauds St. Thomas Farmers for Outstanding Onion Production

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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), greets Assistant General Manager of GK General Insurance Company Limited, Jordon Tait, at a ceremony to handover a cheque to the company, for the provision of farmer insurance. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has committed to give its full support to the first 1,000 farmers (700 males and 300 females) and youths below the age of 29, who signed up with GK Weather Protect Policy. The ceremony was held at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston on May 4.
AgricultureHealth & Wellness

PHOTOS: Agriculture Ministry presents cheque to GK General Insurance Company Limited

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), greets Assistant General Manager of GK General Insurance Company Limited, Jordon Tait, at a ceremony to handover a cheque to the company, for the provision of farmer insurance. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has committed to give its full support to the first 1,000 farmers (700 males and 300...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), along with (from left), Kingston and St. Andrew Association of Branch Societies Executive Member, Lansford Moore, and Market Development Officer at H&L Agro, Kingsley Palmer, display market produce during the launch of AgroFest 2023, at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), St. Andrew Parish Office on May 5.
Agriculture

PHOTOS: Agriculture Minister Launches AgroFest 2023

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), along with (from left), Kingston and St. Andrew Association of Branch Societies Executive Member, Lansford Moore, and Market Development Officer at H&L Agro, Kingsley Palmer, display market produce during the launch of AgroFest 2023, at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), St. Andrew Parish Office on May 5.
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses Wednesday’s (May 3) post-Sectoral Debate press briefing at the Ministry office in Kingston.
Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry Placing Renewed Focus on Storage and Cold Chain Facilities

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be placing renewed focus on the island’s storage and cold chain facilities to extend the quality, nutritional value, and shelf life of produce. To this end, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the Ministry is looking to rehabilitate the Colleyville cold storage facility in Mandeville, Manchester. The establishment of proper drying facilities...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (left) , engages with State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Franklin Witter (centre) and Senior Farm Manager at Island Dairies Limited St. Ann and St Elizabeth, Osril Keith-Dixon, during a recent tour of the company’s cattle farm in Llandovery, St. Ann.
Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry Strengthening Support for Dairy Industry

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be strengthening its partnership with stakeholders in the dairy industry to boost the island’s milk production. Currently, Jamaica’s milk production ranges between 11 and 13 million litres annually. Speaking with journalists following a recent tour of the Island Dairies plant in Priory, St. Ann, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, said there is...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., emphasises a point while making his 2023/24 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 2).
AgricultureFisheriesSectoral Debate 2023/24

More Insurance Options for Farmers and Fishers

Farmers and fishers can now access increased insurance options to protect their lives and livelihoods, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., has informed. Making his presentation in the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 2, Mr. Charles Jr. announced that GK General Insurance Weather Protect is now offering a new type of microinsurance....
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon Pearnel Charles Jr. delivers the main address at the Farm Fest 2023 Agricultural and Educational Show at Knockalva Polytechnic College in Ramble, Hanover on Thursday, April 27.
Agriculture

Agriculture Students Urged to Apply Training and Innovation to Sector

Agriculture students are being charged to apply their training and ingenuity in finding solutions to challenges facing the sector.  Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon Pearnel Charles Jr, in making the call while addressing students of the Knockalva Polytechnic College on April 27, said that the sector needs the energy and innovation of the youth to be stronger, more sustainable...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (left), plays with a cockatiel during a tour of booths at the St. Ann Association of Branch Societies of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, held at the Port Rhoades Sports Complex, Discovery Bay, St. Ann on Friday (April 28). Looking on is State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Franklin Witter (centre), while the Ministry’s Chief Technical Director, Orville Palmer is right.
Agriculture

St. Ann Farmers Urged to Prepare for Tourism Boom

Farmers in St. Ann are being encouraged to prepare to capitalise on the impending expansion of tourism in the parish.  With approximately 5,000 new hotel rooms to be added in the resort area over the next five to 10 years,  Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., is urging the farmers to begin to boost production to supply the...
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