The Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) Holdings Limited has been instructed to form a lease management unit that will better manage arrangements made for the lease of agricultural lands in the Greater Bernard Lodge Development. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the disclosure during a press conference at SCJ Holdings Limited in St. Catherine on Friday (June 25),...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says a water-retention pond will be constructed to hold 10 million gallons of irrigation water for farmers in the Greater Bernard Lodge Development. Approximately 1,300 acres of land is being reserved in the development for small and medium-sized farmers. The Prime Minister was addressing a press conference at SCJ Holdings Limited in St....

Senior Veterinary Specialist, Veterinary Services Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Suzanne McLennon-Miguel, says continuous collaboration between ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) is crucial in the development of effective food-safety control systems locally. Speaking with JIS News, she said that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have established strategic food-safety plans that they...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, says the proposed agricultural wardens programme will be piloted shortly as the Government intensifies measures to protect farmers against praedial larceny. He said that the wardens will have power of arrest. “We want to get people on the ground, just like the district constables, but they (agricultural wardens) will be tasked with...

The country’s fisherfolk and farmers can now access insurance coverage for vessels, vehicles and accessories through Advantage General Insurance. The insurance package, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, was launched during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday (June 22). It is the first of its kind in the industry and will provide fishers registered with the National...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Government is in discussions with local and international interests to secure crop insurance for farmers. “Our discussions are progressing quite well with our insurance providers with relation to crop insurance. We have been engaging on two levels. We have been engaging locally across our local insurance providers to see what options...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Banana Board, has launched a Plantain Pilot Project (PPP), which aims to establish 10 hectares (25 acres) of irrigated plantain production. The objectives of the project are to increase overall production of plantains by 300 tonnes after year one, improve crop quality in keeping with local and international food safety...