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Public Relations Specialist, National Irrigation Commission (NIC), Christeen Forbes, tells JIS News that the Commission operates in drought-prone areas across the island and offers farmers consistent water supply to their farms.
Public Relations Specialist, National Irrigation Commission (NIC), Christeen Forbes, tells JIS News that the Commission operates in drought-prone areas across the island and offers farmers consistent water supply to their farms.

NIC Applicants Must Have Legal Access to Land

The National Irrigation Commission (NIC) is reminding persons that they must have legal access to land before applying for service from the entity. The NIC is the only organisation on the island that offers irrigated water to farmers. In a...
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (second right), observes a fruit and vegetable display at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Elizabeth Open Day Agrifest at the Social Development Commission (SDC) complex in Santa Cruz, on June 9. Also looking on are (from left) Director of Minerals, Land and Environmental Management in the Ministry, Dorlan Burrell; RADA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Winston Simpson; RADA St. Elizabeth Deputy Parish Manager, Jermaine Wilson; and RADA St. Elizabeth Parish Agricultural Manager (acting), Mark Lee.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (second right), observes a fruit and vegetable display at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Elizabeth Open Day Agrifest at the Social Development Commission (SDC) complex in Santa Cruz, on June 9. Also looking on are (from left) Director of Minerals, Land and Environmental Management in the Ministry, Dorlan Burrell; RADA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Winston Simpson; RADA St. Elizabeth Deputy Parish Manager, Jermaine Wilson; and RADA St. Elizabeth Parish Agricultural Manager (acting), Mark Lee.

Major Investment to Boost Production of Ginger, Turmeric and Pimento
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (right) and State Minister, Hon. Franklin Witter (centre), inspect solar panels comprising the Plumwood Pumping Station PV Solar System Installation Project in New Forest, Manchester, along with Energy Engineer, National Irrigation Commission, Emile Myers. The facility, which was handed over by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) during a recent ceremony, was financed under the second cycle of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI-II). The system will benefit approximately 1,943 farmers in the New Forest/Duff House Agro-Parks in South Manchester and South St. Elizabeth.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (right) and State Minister, Hon. Franklin Witter (centre), inspect solar panels comprising the Plumwood Pumping Station PV Solar System Installation Project in New Forest, Manchester, along with Energy Engineer, National Irrigation Commission, Emile Myers. The facility, which was handed over by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) during a recent ceremony, was financed under the second cycle of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI-II). The system will benefit approximately 1,943 farmers in the New Forest/Duff House Agro-Parks in South Manchester and South St. Elizabeth.

PHOTOS: JSIF Handover Plumwood Pumping Station PV Solar System
Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining , Hon. Franklin Witter (right) and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Winston Simpson, examine tomatoes at the Gayle Town Farm in Ballards Valley, St. Elizabeth. Occasion was a tour of farms and farm roads that were damaged by the recent heavy rainfall on Friday ( June 16).
Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining , Hon. Franklin Witter (right) and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Winston Simpson, examine tomatoes at the Gayle Town Farm in Ballards Valley, St. Elizabeth. Occasion was a tour of farms and farm roads that were damaged by the recent heavy rainfall on Friday ( June 16).

More Than $60 Million Damage to Crops In St. Elizabeth
Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter (right) and farmer from Alligator Pond, Manchester, Laverni Reid, look at watermelons that remain in the field, in the aftermath of recent heavy rains. Occasion was a tour of the area on Wednesday (June 14) to assess the damage.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter (right) and farmer from Alligator Pond, Manchester, Laverni Reid, look at watermelons that remain in the field, in the aftermath of recent heavy rains. Occasion was a tour of the area on Wednesday (June 14) to assess the damage.

South Manchester Farmers to Get Assistance

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(FILE) A St Elizabeth farm with the new method of watering by drip irrigation, fed from the black tanks.
Agriculture

Farmers Encouraged to Use NIC Services

The National Irrigation Commission (NIC) is urging farmers to access their irrigation services for their crops. The call comes in light of the recent drought conditions caused by below-normal rainfall, which has left many farmers across the island vulnerable. Many farmers are still dependent on rainfall to sustain their operations, but irrigated water can provide a consistent supply. Public Relations...
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Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (second right), looks at the colourful display of fruits and vegetables at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) St. Elizabeth ‘Agrifest’ at the Social Development Commission (SDC) Complex in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, on June 9. Looking on are (from left): Director of Minerals, Land and Environmental Management in the Ministry, Dorlan Burrell; RADA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Winston Simpson; RADA St. Elizabeth Deputy Parish Manager, Jermaine Wilson; and RADA St. Elizabeth Parish Agricultural Manager (Acting), Mark Lee.
Agriculture

Gov’t Boosting Irrigation In St. Elizabeth

The Government is spending $700 million to improve irrigation systems and support farmers across the parish of St. Elizabeth. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, said the investment is part of the greater Essex Valley Irrigation Infrastructure Development Programme that aims to improve access to irrigation to boost agricultural production and food security. He was addressing the...
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Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter (centre) and President, Kingston and St. Andrew (KSA) Association of Branch Societies (ABS), Albert Green (left), peruse a document during the organisation’s annual general meeting at the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions office in St. Andrew on Monday (June 12). With them is the organisation’s Chairman, Lansford Moore.
Agriculture

PHOTOS: Farmers in Kingston and St. Andrew Hailed for Making Significant Strides in Production

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter (centre) and President, Kingston and St. Andrew (KSA) Association of Branch Societies (ABS), Albert Green (left), peruse a document during the organisation’s annual general meeting at the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions office in St. Andrew on Monday (June 12). With them is the organisation’s Chairman,...
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Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Courtney Cole, addresses stakeholders participating in a food-loss and waste-reduction technical workshop at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in St. Andrew on June 8. At right is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative for Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Belize, Dr. Crispim Moreira.
Agriculture

PHOTOS: FAO Hosts Food Loss and Waste Reduction Workshop

Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Courtney Cole, addresses stakeholders participating in a food-loss and waste-reduction technical workshop at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in St. Andrew on June 8. At right is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative for Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Belize, Dr. Crispim Moreira.
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Regional Consultant on Food Systems and Governance at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Sara Granados Ortiz.
Agriculture

Agricultural Stakeholders Benefit from FAO Workshop

Twenty stakeholders in the agricultural sector have received technical support through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to manage Food Loss and Waste (FLW). At a workshop held on June 7, focus was placed on waste and loss management related to harvest and postharvest production, distribution and commercialisation. Regional Consultant on Food Systems and Governance at...
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State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter (left), engages with a student at the HEART/NSTA Trust Ebony Park Academy, Shavana Ellis (right), while touring booths at a World Milk Day function held on Thursday (June 1) at the Sydney Pagan STEM Academy in St Elizabeth. Looking on is Principal, Sydney Pagan STEM Academy, Milbert Miller (second left).
Agriculture

Almost 10 Per Cent Growth in Milk Production Last Year

New product development and innovative practices in the dairy industry resulted in an almost 10 per cent increase in the nation’s fresh milk production last year. State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter, in making the disclosure, said Jamaica produced 12.4 million litres of milk in 2022, which is an improvement of 1.1 million...
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