Youth agricultural entrepreneur (agripreneur) and founder of Yahweh`s Authorised Health (YAH`s), Dora Barrett, credits the Creator and the Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP) for shaping her business journey. Ms. Barrett, who grew up in a rural community in St. James, developed an appreciation for the connection between holistic health and herbs through her faith. She shared that her interest...

Jamaica has taken a major step towards strengthening agricultural productivity, safeguarding plant health, and improving food security with the setting up of a new Seed and Nursery Certification Unit at the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine. Established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, the facility is designed to regulate and certify nurseries and seed producers, ensuring that...

For St. Ann poultry farmer Marcia Bygrave collecting 50 broiler chicks at the Port Rhoades Sports Club recently was more than the start of another rearing cycle; it was the beginning of a new chapter. Ms. Bygrave said the support has given her renewed purpose and a realistic opportunity to earn an income. “I am so elated. I used to...

For thousands of small-scale producers across Jamaica, the oversupply of some vegetables was unexpected after Hurricane Melissa destroyed the majority of the island’s high-production zones during its passage. But with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and the resilience of the farmers, the agriculture sector bounced back so well that a new problem was created –...

Twenty-seven years ago, Julie Bryson-Hing walked out of a restaurant job after one too many disputes with her boss. She initially decided to open a restaurant of her own, but after assessing the overhead costs, she took a detour to the farm. “So, I go to check my sister… and she was saying to me I could plant a bag...

Jamaica’s agriculture sector is grappling with shifting weather patterns as the country transitions from a La Niña phase toward more neutral conditions, with the possibility of entering an El Niño phase later this year. Senior Plant Health and Food Safety Officer at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Francine Webb, tells JIS News that recent weather conditions have deviated significantly...

With the recent conclusion of the Improving Rural Livelihoods Through Resilient Agri-Food Systems (IRL) Project, the landscape of Kitson Town in St. Catherine has entered a new era of climate-smart, business-oriented agriculture. The project, which was launched in 2023, was funded by a US$1-million investment from the Government of India and implemented through a partnership between the Food and Agriculture...

Scores of small farmers in Kitson Town, St. Catherine, say they are benefiting from an agricultural transformation in the community that is improving livelihoods, redefining community, and reimagining the future of rural enterprises. The small farmers tell a story of empowerment, innovation, and renewed hope, and are crediting the Improving Rural Livelihoods through Resilient Agri-food Systems (IRL) Project for the...