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Newly appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Leslie Campbell, says agriculture will play a significant role in Jamaica’s economic recovery post the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing staff at a meeting at the Hope Gardens’ offices of the Ministry on July 23, Mr. Campbell pointed to countries such as the United States, Malta and Israel, which have used agriculture as the base for their economic success.
Mr. Campbell, who was appointed to the Ministry on July 17, also encouraged the staff to double their efforts to...

In response to the news item carried on TVJ’s evening news of Tuesday, July 21, 2020 and subsequent questions in relation to payments made to former workers of the Golden Grove Sugar Factory, I wish to clarify that the Government of Jamaica provided $200 million towards an Alternative Livelihood Development Programme for the Displaced Sugar Workers for the Golden Grove Factory Area.

The programme aims to mitigate the hardships that the cane farmers and factory workers from the St. Thomas region are facing from the closure of the Golden Grove Sugar Factory.

The...

Rehabilitation of the Bingham Hill farm road in St. Ann has brought much joy to residents living in and around the surrounding districts.

The roadway was officially opened on July 16 by former Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson.

The roadway was repaired under the Government’s National Farm Road Rehabilitation Programme, being implemented by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

It connects the Coffee Ridge and Mount Moriah districts and also allows additional access to other...

Farmers in Bingham Hill and surrounding communities in St. Ann will now find it easier to get to their fields and transport their goods to market following the rehabilitation of the farm road in the area.

The upgrade of the roadway forms part of ongoing farm road improvements in the parish, where approximately $42 million have been spent over the past two financial years to benefit some 1,800 farmers.

“With 23,188 registered farmers in the parish of St. Ann contributing 1,500 hectares of domestic food crops and 45 acres of protected agriculture, farmers are encouraged to...

State Minister for Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon Floyd Green, is encouraging owners of unused arable lands to enter into an arrangement with the Government to have these properties leased for agricultural production.

Speaking at a webinar on exploring investment opportunities in agri-business, hosted by Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) on July 22, Mr. Green said through an agricultural land-matching programme under the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), the Government will assist interested agricultural landowners in leasing their lands to suitable...