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Patrons view birds at a booth during the Hague Agricultural Show, which was held in Trelawny on Ash Wednesday, February 22.
Patrons view birds at a booth during the Hague Agricultural Show, which was held in Trelawny on Ash Wednesday, February 22.

Hague Agricultural Show Rebounds from Two-Year COVID-19 Hiatus

Scores of patrons flocked to the 66th Hague Agricultural Show, which was held in Trelawny on Ash Wednesday, February 22. The show, which returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was hosted by the Trelawny Association of...
A $2.3-billion allocation has been made to continue work on the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project in the upcoming fiscal year. The sum has been budgeted in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, recently. The project, which began in December 2019, aims to provide access to irrigation water on fallow sugar lands, to increase agricultural productivity through the modernisation of the agricultural sector. It includes construction of wells and canal network and the development of the associated agricultural infrastructure in the arable areas of Amity Hall and Bridge Pen in St. Catherine and Parnassus in Clarendon. Up to December 2022, the drilling of three wells and yield test were completed in Parnassus, and abstraction licences were approved by the Water Resources Authority. Other physical achievements of the project include the completion of capacity-building for climate resilience and crop modelling, the design of agricultural buildings, the irrigation network design, the irrigation and road/draining works, and a gender-responsive training manual for farmer groups. For fiscal year 2023/24, anticipated physical targets of the project are to commence the construction of agricultural buildings and to complete the construction of irrigation network and roads/drainage infrastructure, as well as to complete the rehabilitation of Hartlands canal. This is in addition to the re-tender for contract to construct pump houses and reservoir at Amity Hall/Bridge Pen and the acquisition of GIS equipment for the NIC. (more) Southern Plains…2 The project is being implemented by the Ministry Agriculture and Fisheries, with co-funding from the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank. It is slated to end in December 2024. An additional $361.7 million has been earmarked to undertake activities in fiscal year 2024/25, if necessary.
A $2.3-billion allocation has been made to continue work on the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project in the upcoming fiscal year. The sum has been budgeted in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, recently. The project, which began in December 2019, aims to provide access to irrigation water on fallow sugar lands, to increase agricultural productivity through the modernisation of the agricultural sector. It includes construction of wells and canal network and the development of the associated agricultural infrastructure in the arable areas of Amity Hall and Bridge Pen in St. Catherine and Parnassus in Clarendon. Up to December 2022, the drilling of three wells and yield test were completed in Parnassus, and abstraction licences were approved by the Water Resources Authority. Other physical achievements of the project include the completion of capacity-building for climate resilience and crop modelling, the design of agricultural buildings, the irrigation network design, the irrigation and road/draining works, and a gender-responsive training manual for farmer groups. For fiscal year 2023/24, anticipated physical targets of the project are to commence the construction of agricultural buildings and to complete the construction of irrigation network and roads/drainage infrastructure, as well as to complete the rehabilitation of Hartlands canal. This is in addition to the re-tender for contract to construct pump houses and reservoir at Amity Hall/Bridge Pen and the acquisition of GIS equipment for the NIC. (more) Southern Plains…2 The project is being implemented by the Ministry Agriculture and Fisheries, with co-funding from the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank. It is slated to end in December 2024. An additional $361.7 million has been earmarked to undertake activities in fiscal year 2024/25, if necessary.

Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project Gets $2.3 Billion
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, speaks after tabling the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure in the House of Representatives on February 14.
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, speaks after tabling the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure in the House of Representatives on February 14.

Work Continues on Essex Valley Irrigation Project
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (FILE)
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (FILE)

Plant Quarantine Act Modernisation Nearing Completion
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (centre), in discussion with Director of Agriculture and Fisheries at Food For the Poor, Nakhle Hado (right), while Chief Strategic Officer, Environmental Solutions Limited, Stephen Jones, looks on. They were in the process of observing a drone (foreground) being used to irrigate an onion farm in St. Thomas, during a tour on Thursday (February 16).
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (centre), in discussion with Director of Agriculture and Fisheries at Food For the Poor, Nakhle Hado (right), while Chief Strategic Officer, Environmental Solutions Limited, Stephen Jones, looks on. They were in the process of observing a drone (foreground) being used to irrigate an onion farm in St. Thomas, during a tour on Thursday (February 16).

Agriculture Ministry Invites Investment in Drone Technology

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AgricultureFinance & Public Service

$66.5M Allocated for Soil Fertility Mapping Project

Work is to continue on the soil fertility mapping project in the upcoming fiscal year, with approximately $66.58 million allocated to the initiative. The provision is contained in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives recently. The project, being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, aims to increase productivity and the quality of agricultural...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (centre), in discussion with Director of Agriculture and Fisheries at Food For the Poor, Nakhle Hado (right), while Chief Strategic Officer, Environmental Solutions Limited, Stephen Jones, looks on. They were in the process of observing a drone (foreground) being used to irrigate an onion farm in St. Thomas, during a tour on Thursday (February 16).
Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry Heightening Praedial Larceny Prevention Efforts

Several measures are being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to heighten praedial larceny prevention and safeguard the sector. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., told journalists during a tour of onion farms in St. Thomas on Thursday (February 16) that submissions are being made to Cabinet to assist in wiping out the illicit practice. “We are and...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a Plant Quarantine Exporters’ Forum, held on February 14, at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston.
AgricultureFinance & Public Service

Fresh Produce Exports Earn US$78 Million Annually

The average annual export of Jamaica’s fresh produce industry is approximately 34.5 million kilogrammes (kg), with estimated earnings of US$78.32 million. Currently, Jamaica exports to more than 30 countries worldwide, with the United States of America (USA), Canada, the United Kingdom and Cayman Islands being the most important markets for Jamaican produce. “Yam export is a significant contributor to this...
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Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, delivers the Throne Speech during the 2023/24 Ceremonial Opening of Parliament at Gordon House on Duke Street in downtown Kingston, on Tuesday (February 14).
AgricultureGovernor GeneralParliament

Increase in Agricultural Output

Agro-parks and production zones have recorded a 230 per cent increase in output for the 2022/23 fiscal year, compared to 2021/22. This was achieved following the Government’s provision of more than $1 billion to expand infrastructure and production in eight agro-parks and nine agro-economic Zones. Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who made the announcement, highlighted the...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (centre), looks at seedlings during a tour of farms in Clarendon on February 10. Also observing is Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Zavia Mayne.
AgricultureYouth

Farmers Mentoring Younger Generation

Farmers who have taken on a mentorship role in training many of their younger counterparts in the art of farming and best practices are being hailed by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. “It is something we have been seeing more and more of and I think is really exemplary… that level of mentorship. It has...
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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., speaks at a press briefing held recently at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston.
Agriculture

Growth in Onion Production

The agricultural sector achieved 30 per cent self-sufficiency in onion production in 2022, moving from 20 per cent in 2021, a 50 per cent growth. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the disclosure during a press briefing held recently at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston. The Minister was giving an update on the $1.07-billion Production Incentive...
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