To strengthen agriculture and build the country’s resilience to climate change effects, the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC) is facilitating a multiagency partnership to plant 6,000 trees The trees to be planted will include fruit, ornamental and timber, and the exercise will be carried out across the Agro Parks and Production Zones.   Additional trees will be planted at the Ebony Park and...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting that the Southern Plains Agricultural Development (SPAD) Project is progressing ahead of schedule. Speaking during a tour of the Amity Hall worksite in St. Catherine on Thursday (September 1), Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. said he expects the impact of the project to be massive. “It’s going to push agriculture, push...

The Government is investing $200 million in the national Irish potato and onion programme, to increase the hectares under production and to improve yields of these crops. The sum of $150 million has been allocated for the Irish potato programme, while $50 million will be invested in onion production. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said for the...

Farmers in St. Thomas are being lauded for their significant strides in onion production, which has considerably surpassed the national yield. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., noted that during the fall season, more than 100 hectares of onion have been produced in the parish, with the support of the Ministry’s production incentive programme. “The parish also exceeded...

Some $20 million has so far been issued to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for a special incentive programme for land preparation. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, said: “During my sectoral presentation, we made a commitment to support new farmers through this programme, at a value of $63 million, and I...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has received two backhoes from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to provide services to farming communities in St. Thomas and Westmoreland. The units, costing some $38.76 million, were handed over by portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., today (August 24) at the Agro-Investment Corporation compound in Kingston. Mr. Charles Jr said the move...

Budding Farmers Jamaica, the newest Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries-endorsed initiative to promote farming among children, has successfully staged its first in-person Summer Grow Camp, two years after executing the programme online. For three weeks in July, participants, ages 3-12, were engaged in exciting activities to develop their understanding of the environment and promote food security. The camp was held...