The Coconut Industry Board (CIB) is working to strengthen agro-processing to meet the increased consumer demand for coconut by-products. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CIB, Shaun Cameron, told JIS News that while there is significant demand for coconut water and coconut oil “we want our agri-processors, our small to medium-sized farmers to look at other value-added coconut products that...

Some 61 female business owners participated in a workshop staged on Thursday (February 29) under the Women Entrepreneurship Support (WES) Project. The project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce in partnership with the Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA), was initiated to address the obstacles encountered by female-owned Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It aims to provide...

The Coconut Industry Board (CIB) is encouraging coconut growers to register with the entity before March 1. Registration is free and enables growers to access benefits such as free seedlings, fertiliser, weed control grant, automatic insurance for trees against windstorm damage, voting rights and advisory services. Speaking with JIS News, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with the CIB, Shaun Cameron, said...

The Scientific Research Council (SRC) has extended the deadline for entries in the National Young Inventors and Innovators Competition (YIIC) to March 31. Speaking with JIS News recently, Executive Director, Dr. Charah Watson, said the extension was made in the best interest of students who wish to participate. “We launched the competition at the end of November, then students went...

A project to support the improvement of access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) has been given a budgetary allocation of $822 million to continue in the upcoming fiscal year. Details of the undertaking are contained in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which is being implemented by the Development...

Hot pepper farmers and other stakeholders who took part in pest surveillance training are hailing the sessions as useful and beneficial to their farming practices. A total of 169 farmers, input suppliers and nursery operators benefited from guidance to reduce the prevalence of pests in hot pepper cultivation under the Improving the Phytosanitary Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along...

The Scientific Research Council (SRC) has committed its support to student entrepreneurs of the Papine High School in St. Andrew, following their call for approval of their personal-care products. Executive Director of the SRC, Dr. Charah Watson, said assistance will be given to ensure that the students are successful in their shampoo and lotion project and any future enterprise that...

The Government has allocated funds for the construction of revetments in Buff Bay, Portland and Annotto Bay, St. Mary to protect the coastal towns from storm surges. The works will be done under the Enhancing the Resilience of the Agricultural Sector and Coastal Areas project, which has been allocated approximately $441.5 million in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, now before...

The Government has allocated approximately $225 million to increase Jamaica’s resilience to climate change and reduce poverty through the implementation of an Integrated and Sustainable Landscape Management Methodology. Details of the provision are contained in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled recently in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke....