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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.

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...

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.

Increase in Coffee Production

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).

RADA to Receive $36.9 Million for Drought Support to Farmers

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

Coffee Farmers Trade Day on March 14

Representative from the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Jamaica, Gabrio Marinozzi (right), presents a certificate to Clovaline Thomas, who was a participant in the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) training workshop. Occasion was the closing ceremony for the programme and presentation of certificates held on March 3 at the Farmers’ Training Centre in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine.

PHOTOS: Closing Ceremony and Presentation of Certificates to PICSA Trainees

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (FILE)

3 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry Allocated $21.25 Billion for 2023/24 Fiscal Year

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has been allocated $21.25 billion to undertake activities for the 2023/24 fiscal year. This represents a 19 per cent increase or $3.39 billion more than the previous year. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. made the disclosure during a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives at Gordon House on...

Director, Tourism Linkages Network, Carolyn McDonlad Riley.

3 years ago Agriculture

Coffee Innovation Competition Added to Activities for Coffee Festival

Persons are being invited to participate in the Coffee Innovation Competition, the newest feature of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival. Director, Tourism Linkages Network, Carolyn McDonald Riley told JIS News that the competition is a “unique opportunity to show off creativity and innovation through the development of coffee-based products”. Interested persons are being asked to record a 60-second video...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St. Andrew, on March 3.

3 years ago Agriculture

More Help for Farmers Affected by Drought

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has provided an additional $110 million in support to farmers affected by the meteorological drought. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the announcement during a press briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister on March 3. “We have, so far, presented… $90 million in terms of trucking and other forms of...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (centre), looks at a floor plan for a new tilapia hatchery during a stakeholders’ validation meeting at the Caymanas Gold Club in St. Catherine, on March 2. Also observing are (from left) Managing Director, Bernard Sustainable Limited, Keroma Bernard; CEO, National Fisheries Authority, Dr. Gavin Bellamy; Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Orville Palmer and Director, Holland Aqua, Frans Aarsten.

3 years ago Agriculture

Climate-resilient Aquaculture Hatchery to Double Fry Supply of NFA

The planned construction of a climate-resilient aquaculture hatchery is expected to more than double the fry supply of the National Fisheries Authority (NFA). This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., during a Stakeholders’ Validation Meeting for the undertaking, on March 2. “The type of innovation and the modernisation that comes from the building of...

3 years ago Agriculture

RADA Trains More Than 14,000 Farmers in Five Years

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has trained more than 14,000 farmers in the last five years on best practices in livestock and crop production. Delivered through its extension service, training aims to improve sustainable production and to ensure that international protocols are maintained. Livestock Specialist at RADA, Maxine Brown, said that having one livestock officer in each parish has...

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

3 years ago Agriculture

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 Branch Societies, an affiliate of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), under the theme ‘Fostering Economic Growth, Through Agricultural Value Chains’....

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.
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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.

3 years ago AgricultureFinance & Public ServiceParliament

Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project Gets $2.3 Billion

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...