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Head of Medicinal Plant Research, University of the West Indies (UWI) Biotechnology Centre, Dr. Sylvia Mitchell (second right), points out features of the bamboo plant during a recent session on the Peckham Bamboo Project held at the Peckham Community Centre in Clarendon. Looking on are Senior Director at the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), Gladstone Rose (left), Technical Specialist with the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Charmaine Brimm (centre) and community beneficiaries.

Scores trained under Peckham Bamboo Project

Eighty young people from communities in and around Peckham, Clarendon, have been trained and certified in the production of bamboo by-products, including the infusion of bamboo in light-emitting diode (LED) technology. The training was conducted under the Peckham Bamboo Project,...

Senior Plant Health and Food Safety Officer at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Francine Webb (right), addresses farmers at a training session on the Beet Army Worm with farmers from St. Elizabeth and Manchester on October 23 at New Forest/Duff House in Manchester.

Training Session for Farmers on Beet Army Worm

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, addresses farmers at a National Irish Potato Stakeholders’ Seminar, in Claremont, St. Ann, on October 18.

Farmers Urged to Register with RADA

Director of Research, Training and Development at the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies, Paulette Kirkland (centre), speaks with Winfield Murray (right) of the Hanover Bee Farmers Co-operative. Occasion was a stakeholder conference staged by the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies in Montego Bay, today (October 19). At left is Registrar, Errol Gallimore.

Government Committed to Growth of Cooperatives

Chairman, Cannabis Licensing Authority of Jamaica, Hyacinth Lightbourne (left), presents Director and Secretary, Everyting Oily Labs, Claudine Liu, with a cannabis licence, at a press conference on Wednesday (October 18), at the offices of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries in New Kingston.

CLA Issues First Two Cannabis Licences

Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Brian Wynter.

8 years ago CommerceForeign Affairs

Code of Conduct to Set Standard for FX Market

Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Brian Wynter, says the Foreign Exchange Code of Conduct, currently being crafted, will bring greater order and standard to the foreign exchange market. He noted that while there are excellent institutions operating within the market, the standards are not consistent across all entities. “So we are looking at creating some common standards that...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, plants a dwarf June plum tree at the Knockalva Agricultural School in Hanover, following his address at the World Food Day national ceremony and exhibition on Thursday (October 12).

8 years ago CommerceIndustryYouth

Rural Youth Urged to Stay at Home and Help Build Communities

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, is urging young people residing in rural areas to remain at home and contribute to the economic development of their communities. “I implore you to see the positives in every aspect of your community development and try to remain at home to build your community. It is only by rural...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, addresses farmers in Christiana, Manchester, on October 12.

8 years ago AgricultureCommerceIndustry

Minister Wants End to Importation of Some Crops through Increased Production

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says come next year, work will begin to bring an end to the importation of tomatoes, carrots, red peas, thyme and green gungo peas, through increased production. He noted that so far this year, farmers have produced 90 per cent of the Irish potatoes consumed...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), greets Chairman of the Standards Council, James Rawle (left), at a ceremony to launch the rebranded Bureau of Standards Jamaica and its refurbished Energy Efficiency and Mass and Dimensional laboratories held at the agency’s Winchester Road offices in Kingston, on October 11. Others from (second left) are Permanent Secretary in the Science, Energy and Technology Ministry, Hillary Alexander; and Permanent Secretary in the Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, Donovan Stanberry.

8 years ago AgricultureCommerceIndustry

Local Businesses to Benefit from Rebranded BSJ

Local businesses are to benefit from a rebranded Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), which will now focus on trade facilitation and business support, instead of regulations. The new focus will aid Jamaican businesses in being more competitive in the local and export markets through the use of standards. The shift is part of recommendations from the International Bank for Reconstruction...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (right), and Managing Director of St. Jago Farm and Hardware Supplies Limited (SJFHS), O’Brien Johnson, have a light moment with participants in the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme (QYLP) as they discuss the benefits of a knapsack sprayer. Occasion was a ceremony held at Morant Villas in St. Thomas on Tuesday (October 11), where SJFHS handed over agricultural supplies to more than 60 farmers.

8 years ago AgricultureCommerceIndustry

Minister Hutchinson Salutes St. Jago Farm Supplies’ Support to Farmers

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, has lauded the ‘Salute to Farmers’ initiative being undertaken by St. Jago Farm and Hardware Supplies Limited (SJFHS) to assist farmers who suffered losses during recent flood rains. Under the initiative, the company collaborates with its international suppliers to provide farmers with key inputs to...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, delivering the keynote address at itelbpo

8 years ago CommercePrime Minister

PM says Labour Force Must Keep Pace with BPO Sector

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the labour force needs to keep pace with the growing business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, noting that there are not enough qualified persons to fill jobs. “We have to address the binding constraint of the growth of the BPO sector… and that is the labour force,” Mr. Holness said, while addressing stakeholders...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (second right), looks on as Managing Director, Newport Fersan Jamaica Limited, Dennis Valdez (right), presents a bag of ‘coffeeliser’ to coffee farmers from the Brandon Hill Division, Odia Bruce (left) and Will Frazer, during a press conference on the coffee industry, at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on October 3.

8 years ago AgricultureCommerceIndustry

$80-Million Initiative to Help Registered Coffee Farmers

Registered coffee farmers are to benefit from an $80-million initiative that is expected to improve and increase their yields over time. The project, which falls under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ Productivity Incentive Programme, will focus on training; the purchase of inputs, such as fertilisers and fungicides, and tools. Speaking at a press conference on October 3...