Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. says the Ministry through the Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit, has been pursuing several strategies to combat the illegal activity. Mr. Charles Jr. said it is estimated that Jamaican farmers suffer losses of more than $5 billion per annum due to praedial larceny. “[It] will be one of the issues of importance...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says Jamaica is seeking to increase production and expand the export base for Blue Mountain Coffee. These include targeting markets such as the United States, which currently accounts for 20 per cent of exports, he noted. Japan is Jamaica's largest importer of Blue Mountain Coffee, absorbing some 70 per cent of exports,...

Legislation is to be amended to facilitate the effective regulation of trade and movement of agricultural produce. With this amendment, the Agricultural Produce Act is to be strengthened and modernised to achieve this objective. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, who made the disclosure during a virtual post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (January 5), informed that Cabinet...

Minister with responsibility for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, on Thursday (December 16), officially commissioned into service, the Little Park F3 Pump Station in St. Elizabeth, which was retrofitted by the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) Limited at a cost of $53.14 million. The project, which was completed over seven months, involved the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems comprising...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Agro Investment Corporation (AIC), Dr. Al Powell, says Jamaica has the potential to expand its foothold in the global market for mango, which is valued at US $18 billion. He noted that in 2020, the country supplied over 291,321 kilograms of the fruit overseas, valuing US$623,190. “But that’s a drop in the bucket compared...

The Agro Investment Corporation (AIC) will assist farmers operating in the new mango agro park in Spring Plain, Clarendon to access quality seedlings for planting. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AIC, Dr. Al Powell, said that the move is part of the phased opening of the new agro park. He was speaking at an investment breakfast at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel...

The Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC) has handed over leases to five investors to begin cultivation of 250 acres of land at the new mango agro park in Spring Plain, Clarendon. Chief Executive Officer of the AIC, Dr. Al Powell, said that the investors are expected to see returns on their investment in three years. “The mango agro park, after three years,...