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Conch exporters have been granted permission to pay the levy for the 2016 season in instalments.
Through passage of the Conch (Export Levy) (Special Provisions) Act revival resolution in the House of Representatives recently, exporters will be allowed to complete payment within three months of the date of submission of the application for an export health certificate and export licence for each consignment of conch.
Presenting the resolution, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, noted that the exporters have made representation to the...

The Government is providing some $1.1 billion to assist farmers under its Irish Potato Expansion Programme, to meet a production target of 1,200 hectares.
Support to boost the production of Irish potato will include a $48.3-million grant and more than $700 million of input, including extension services, says Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson.
Making the disclosure at an Irish Potato Production Seminar, held at the Guy’s Hill Civic Centre, in St. Catherine, on October 12, the Minister said a ready...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will be providing support for the establishment of a proper school garden at the Beersheba Primary School in New Market, St. Elizabeth.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, who made the disclosure, said the project will ensure that students are exposed to agriculture from an early stage.
“We are going to be providing fencing, the seeds, fertilizer, and we are also going to look about providing a black tank and drip hose so that those of you who are here will start learning about...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, is commending the country’s pig farmers for the strides being made in the industry, which have seen the country gaining self-sufficiency in the production of pork, while reducing imports of meat.
He noted that the output of pork has grown by 22 per cent, moving from 6.3 million kilograms (kg) in 2003 to 7.7 million kg in 2015, with production peaking at 9.5 million kg in 2012.
Mr. Samuda, in a speech read by Chief Technical Director (CTD) in the Ministry, Stephen Wedderburn at the Jamaica Pig Farmers...

The Government is aiming to significantly boost local milk production from the current level of 13 million litres annually to 20 million litres by 2020, says Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda.
In a speech delivered by Director General in the Ministry, Vivian Brown, at the Seprod Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony in Kingston on October 20, Mr. Samuda said the Ministry has employed a number of strategies to develop the dairy industry, including improving the genetic performance of the animals, and providing the appropriate environment for...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says agricultural production recorded tremendous growth over the last two quarters.
“In the quarter up to June, we had an increase over last year of 13.5 per cent. I understand that the figure coming out for the end of September is about 13.9 per cent over last year for that quarter,” he added.
Mr. Hutchinson was addressing members of the Seville Benevolent Society Production and Marketing Organization (PMO) in St. Ann, on October 21.
The Minister is attributing the...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says work is to get under way early 2017 on the construction of an agro-economic zone in Annotto Bay, St. Mary.
He said the facility, among others to be established across the island, will provide a guaranteed market for agricultural produce.
“We are looking at putting a structure in place where we have a complex… where we have grading, packaging, processing, drying facilities, abattoir, and cold storage –
everything run by solar energy – so that when you...