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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), cuts sprouted onion tops, under the supervision of female farmers in St. Thomas on Wednesday (March 29). The Minister met with onion farmers in the parish to discuss markets for their massive yield.

St. Thomas Onion Farmers Receiving Buyers for Massive Yield

Onion farmers in St. Thomas, who have already produced two thirds of the national yield, will be receiving market support for their massive production. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., met with the farmers on Wednesday (March...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (stooping) and Minister of State, Hon. Franklin Witter (right, foreground), examine several of the first 50 goats to be imported under the Government’s Small Ruminant Development Programme. With them are Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Dairy Development Board, Devon Sayers (left, standing) and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Orville Palmer. The goats arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on Monday (March 27).

Superior Imported Goats to Genetically Bolster Local Breeds

General Manager of the Banana Board, Janet Conie, is calling farmers to guard against the TR4 disease.

Farmers Encouraged to Guard Against the TR4 Disease

General Manager of the Banana Board, Janet Conie.

Increase in Banana and Plantain Production

Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Floyd Green (centre), looks at items on display at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) booth. He is accompanied by Chief Technical Director (Water, Works, Investment) in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Yaneke Watson (left) and Councillor for the Brompton Division, Withney Smith-Currie. Occasion was World Water Day 2023 activities at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) on Wednesday, March 22.

Cabinet Approves Surveying of Lands for Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right) and Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon Franklin Witter (left), listen keenly as farmer and owner of Kingsley Palmer Enterprises in Malvern, St. Elizabeth, Kingsley Palmer, talks about the preservation of his tomato plants, despite the drought. Occasion was a tour of farms in the parish by the Minister, on Wednesday (March 15).

3 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Tours Farms in St. Elizabeth

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., on Wednesday (March 15) toured farms in St. Elizabeth to examine how farmers are using various techniques to preserve and grow their crops, despite the drought. Mr. Charles Jr. toured farms in the areas of Nain, Junction, Top Hill, Malvern, Flagaman, among others. Speaking to journalists during the tour, the Minister...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, makes a point during his presentation in the 2023/24 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, on March 16.

3 years ago AgricultureBudget 2023/2024ParliamentPrime Minister

Hundreds of Farmers in St. Elizabeth to Benefit from US$200-Million Irrigation Scheme

Hundreds of farmers in the communities of Flagaman, Greenfield, Southfield and Top Hill, in St. Elizabeth, are to benefit from a US$200-million Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme, with which the Government is moving ahead. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the announcement during his contribution to the 2023/24 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, on Thursday (March 16)....

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), is shown a bottle of black castor oil by Jovaughn Bailey of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, during the Jamaica Bauxite Institute’s (JBI) Castor Industry Forum, dubbed ‘Black Castor Oil - Liquid Gold Untapped’, at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, Manchester, on March 15.

3 years ago Agriculture

Black Castor Oil – Liquid Gold Untapped

Farmers and other stakeholders are being encouraged to collaborate to explore the full potential of the local castor bean. Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Mining, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, who made the call, said there is an opportunity to tap into the high demand for Jamaican Black Castor Oil, noting that the global market for the product...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a ‘Coffee Farmers’ Trade Day’ Expo at the University of Technology (UTech), on March 14.

3 years ago Agriculture

Farmers Encouraged to Embrace Innovation

Local farmers are being encouraged to support the agricultural sector’s modernisation by embracing ongoing changes across the industry.. Speaking during a ‘Coffee Farmers’ Trade Day’ expo at the University of Technology (UTech) in St. Andrew on Tuesday (March 14), Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said farmers should not regard innovation and transformation occurring within the sector...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), enjoys a sample of coffee cane juice during his visit to a display area set up by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) at a ‘Coffee Farmers’ Trade Day’ expo. The expo was held inside the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology (UTech), on March 14.

3 years ago Agriculture

Increase in Coffee Production

Coffee production increased by 5.1 per cent in 2022, when compared to the previous year, and is projected to continue an upward trajectory in 2023. This was revealed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., while speaking today (March 14) at a ‘Coffee Farmers’ Trade Day’ expo, at the University of Technology (UTech) in Kingston. The Minister...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., emphasises a point during a media briefing at the Ministry’s headquarters in St. Andrew, on Wednesday (March 8).

3 years ago Agriculture

RADA to Receive $36.9 Million for Drought Support to Farmers

Approximately $36.9 million is to be disbursed immediately to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, to assist in alleviating the impact of drought conditions affecting farmers. This was announced by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., during a press conference at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens headquarters in Kingston, on Wednesday (March 8). He...

Director of the Tourism Linkages Network (TLN), Carolyn McDonald Riley.

3 years ago AgricultureTourism

Coffee Farmers Trade Day on March 14

Coffee farmers in Portland, St. Andrew and St. Thomas are being invited to attend a ‘Farmers’ Trade Day’, slated for Tuesday, March 14, at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The event is being organised by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), with support from...