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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., engages with (from left) Vice President of the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers Association, Desmond Jadusingh; President of the Jamaica Network of Rural Woman Producers, Tamisha Lee; and President of the Jamaica Coffee Growers Association, Donald Salmon. Occasion was the opening of the ‘Strengthening the Capacity of Farmers’ Organizations to Promote Sustainable Family Farming’ national stakeholder workshop, at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in New Kingston on Wednesday (June 1).

Sustainable Family Farming Workshop Under Way

Over 50 small farmers and other stakeholders in agriculture are participating in a training session on sustainable family farming from June 1-2. The ‘Strengthening the Capacity of Farmers’ Organizations to Promote Sustainable Family Farming’ national stakeholder workshop is organised by...

Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB), Devon Sayers.

JDDB Looks To Boost Local Milk Production

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (centre), speaks with President, Society for Economic Botany (SEB), John de la Parra, during the opening ceremony for the 2022 International Joint Conference of SEB and the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE), (SEB-ISE Jamaica 2022) on Sunday (May 30) at the host institution, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, St. Andrew. At right is Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal, UWI Mona Campus, Professor Dale Webber.

UWI Int’l Conference Explores Relationship Between People And Plants

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jnr, ‘smells the coffee’ while visiting the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority’s (JACRA) booth at AgroFest Jamaica on Saturday (May 28). The event was held at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens Complex in Kingston. At right is JACRA Administrator, Carline Wint-Mattison.

AgroFest Jamaica Returns

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jnr (right), observes as National Rums of Jamaica Limited Group Operations Manager, Michael Dunkley (left), pours a product sample during a visit to Clarendon Distillers Limited on Friday (May 27). Also looking on are State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Hon. Franklin Witter (second left); and Chief Executive Officer, National Rums of Jamaica, Martha Miller.

National Rums Jamaica Looking to Expand Sugarcane Cultivation

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr (right), presents special appreciation award to Farmer, Maple Gladstone Lawrence, for over 50 years of dedicated service to the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Branch in St Ann during the eighth staging of the St. Ann Agricultural Industrial and Food Show at Port Rhoades Sport Club in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, on Thursday (May 26).

4 years ago Agriculture

$670M Allocated for farm roads repair

The government has earmarked several agricultural initiatives in the 2022/2023 fiscal year to further develop the sector as a productive and sustainable industry. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the disclosure while addressing Thursday’s (May 26) eighth staging of the St. Ann Agricultural Industrial and Food Show at Port Rhoades Sport Club in Discovery Bay, St. Ann. Minister...

Executive Chairman, Institute of Vocational and Professional Training (IVPT), Randy Finnikin (third left), shows a section of the Institute’s greenhouse to (from left), Jamaica Agricultural Society Vice President, Denton Alvaranga and General Operations Manager, Best Dressed Chicken Processing Plant, Steve Palmer. Looking on (at right, foreground) is Chairman of the Spring Village Development Foundation, Wayne Saunderson.

4 years ago Agriculture

IVPT Now Has a School of Agriculture

Jamaica’s food security and productivity are expected to be boosted by the newly launched ‘School of Agriculture’ at the Institute of Vocational and Professional Training (IVPT) in Bushy Park, St Catherine. In an official event on Thursday (May 26) on the school grounds, Executive Chairman, Mr Randy Finnikin, said the Institution is “seeking to cement the formalisation of training that...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr,. and State Minister, Hon. Franklin Witter, look at the interior of the new refrigerated truck acquired for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Elizabeth parish office. Five new vehicles, acquired for the office, were handed over at the Ministry in Kingston, recently.

4 years ago AgricultureTransport

RADA St. Elizabeth Gets Five New Vehicles

Agricultural support to the more than 35,000 registered farmers in St. Elizabeth has been strengthened through the provision of five vehicles to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) parish office by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The $43.7-million investment includes four pickups, which will serve as pool vehicles, and a refrigerated truck to be stationed at the RADA head...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a recent post-Sectoral Debate press briefing at the Ministry’s Old Hope Road offices in Kingston.

4 years ago AgricultureFinance & Public Service

$1.07 Billion Reserved For Production Incentive Programme

A sum of $1.07 billion is to be funneled into the Production Incentive Programme this year as the Government continues to drive agricultural output. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the disclosure during a recent post-Sectoral debate press briefing at the Ministry’s Old Hope Road offices in Kingston. The allocation for this year includes $258 million for...

State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Franklin Witter (right), and Co-Executive Director, Food For the Poor, Kivette Silvera, visit a booth during World Bee Day 2022 activities at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Kingston office on Friday (May 20).

4 years ago Agriculture

Agriculture Ministry Provides $10-Million Feed Subsidy for Bee Farmers

Jamaica’s bee farmers are being encouraged to take advantage of a $10-million subsidy from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to support the purchase of feed. State Minister, Hon. Franklin Witter, said the sum allocated doubles the amount provided in 2021. “As we seek to build a robust and resilient agriculture sector, the Ministry remains committed to supporting the development...

4 years ago AgricultureFisheries

Agriculture Ministry Calls on Jamaicans to Protect Bees

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is calling on Jamaicans to safeguard the island’s food security by protecting honeybees. On May 20, the world will recognise World Bee Day under the theme ‘Bee Engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems’. Chief Plant Protection Officer in the Apiculture Unit of the Ministry, Hugh Smith, said “the more pollinators we...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses the Ministry’s post Sectoral Debate media briefing, on May 18 at its Old Hope Road offices in Kingston and online.

4 years ago Agriculture

Major Irrigation Scheme For Pedro Plains, St. Elizabeth

The sum of $304 million has been budgeted for the 2022/23 financial year to conduct activities for a major irrigation scheme, which will see water lifted from the Black River to the Pedro Plains of southern St. Elizabeth. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said the sum will also cover the cost for conducting surveys and cadastral mapping...