Farmers in South Manchester and South St. Elizabeth who have been affected by the beet army worm, have benefited from $17.5 million in support from the Government. The farmers have lost some 150 acres of scallion, tomato, cucumber, callaloo, onion, and beetroot to the pest. “We (are) assisting them with everything to get them back on their feet,” said Minister...

The Government is set to roll out a Scotch bonnet pepper programme in North East Manchester in the next few weeks. This was announced by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, during a meeting with Irish Potato Farmers at the Restore Pentecostal Church in Devon, Manchester, on May 17. He explained...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is urging farmers not to overuse pesticides on crops during pest outbreaks. “I want to remind farmers that they are to be guided by the recommendations on the labels,” Senior Plant Health & Food Safety Specialist, Francine Webb, told JIS News. She said that excessive use of chemicals can lead to the consumers, fieldworkers...

The seven development areas in Clarendon have benefited from millions in funding to undertake initiatives to drive social and economic growth at the local level. The support was provided under the Clarendon Local Sustainable Development Plan (CLSDP), which is being implemented by the Clarendon Municipal Corporation through a $32-million grant. Of the sum, $20 million was provided by the European...

Farmers who have suffered extensive losses from the recent heavy rains will benefit from an $18-million allocation by the Government to begin the rebuilding effort. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, said the sum is the first tranche of a response package for the sector. The farmers will begin to receive...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is encouraging farmers to practise integrated pest management (IPM) to control the outbreak of the Beet Army Worm (BAW). The IPM method takes into consideration environmental factors that affect the BAW and its ability to thrive, which means that the farmers can create conditions that are unfavourable for the pest, while minimising the risks...

The Government is set to roll out a Scotch bonnet pepper programme in North East Manchester in the next few weeks. This was announced by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. JC Hutchinson during a meeting with Irish Potato Farmers at the Restore Pentecostal Church in Devon, Manchester on May 17. He explained...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) is developing a forecasting system designed to boost measures to control the beet army worm. Deputy Research Director at MICAF, Michelle Sherwood, says the system, being developed with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is one of several strategies being undertaken by the Ministry. Mrs....

Agro-processors are being encouraged to use more scallion, to minimise the impact of the beet army worm (BAW) on farmers. “This would help, as farmers would have a ready market to supply the scallion as opposed to leaving them unattended in the fields, which is what creates a host for the BAW to reproduce and grow in numbers,” Deputy Research...