Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to focus on expanding agro parks across the island under agriculture business development strategy.

A levy of US$0.50 has been imposed on each pound of conch exported during the 2021 conch season. The new conch export levy rate was approved in the House of Representatives on May 19.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has allocated 128 million dollars to develop over 1000 acres of land into mango orchards. Portfolio Minister Floyd Green says the funds will be used for road and water infrastructure for the orchard and the construction of a hot water treatment plant. Work is set to begin on the project this financial year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting that the sector saw an 8.4 percent increase in export earnings during 2020. Portfolio Minister Floyd Green says the sector earned 230 million dollars in 2020, compared with 216 million in 2019.

The National Fisheries Authority is set to implement an online registration system at a cost of US 1.2 million dollars. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green says the new system will allow fisher folk to get registered using their cell phone.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green says the agriculture sector experienced 1.2 percent growth in production in 2020 despite the challenges caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. Minister Green notes that the level of overall production was the highest on record, surpassing the previous record set in 1996 of 695,050 tonnes.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is to embark on a fishing beach rehabilitation project over the next 5 years, at a cost of 2 billion dollars. Portfolio Minister Floyd Green says the goal of the project is to rehabilitate 15 beaches during the period.

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries set to launch 157 million dollar cold storage facility project. The initiative is aimed at reducing wastage in the agriculture sector.