Article Archive

AF/1030/21

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, is advising small ruminant farmers that creating their own cocktail of medicine to treat parasites in animals is not sustainable and will lead to greater production costs.

“In Jamaica, we hear from our farmers the stories that there is significant resistance to the main classes of drugs available for treatment, and as a result, a number of our goat and sheep farmers have resorted to mixing various drugs to create cocktails in an attempt to gain some level of effectiveness. The reality is that...

AF/462/21 

Impacted by COVID-19, and having to deal with being employed only two days per week, Denise Williams Bailey overcame the challenges to become an agricultural entrepreneur. The 35-year-old was trained in accounting and hospitality and worked in some of the major service establishments over the past decade, both in Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Mrs. Williams Bailey is now Head of Denden’s Farm and Supplies, in Kellits, Clarendon.

Returning from Trinidad and Tobago in 2015, she obtained employment at a top food outlet in Kingston. Two years later, she moved to...

AF/1016/21

                                                   BY: GARFIELD L. ANGUS

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is on a drive to put unused lands into food production.

           Recently, 9,000 acres were transferred from the National Land Agency (NLA), and are now being allocated for farming.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, has said that personnel from the Ministry and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) are going across the island “organising small farmers” to set up Agro Production Zones.

Speaking...

AF/520/21

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is encouraging Jamaicans to utilise their backyards for garden projects this Labour Day, which is being observed on Monday, May 24.

In keeping with the theme for Labour Day 2021, ‘Promoting a Clean and Healthy Environment’, emphasis is being placed on persons staying at home and tending to their personal spaces, including their gardens.        Director of Public Relations and Communications at RADA, Camille Beckford, told JIS News that with the reality of COVID-19, backyard gardening can be used as an...

AF/592/21

Farmers and fishers across the island can now access quality customer care services from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries online.

This is through a Customer Feedback System, which was officially launched on Wednesday (May 26) by portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green.

The online system can be accessed via the Ministry’s website at www.moa.gov.jm ...

AF/646/21

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, has lauded operators of the St. Catherine-based Model Agricultural Production Limited, for investing more than US$2.5 million in farming.

During a tour of the farm in Innswood on June 2, Mr. Green said the entity is reaping success from a significant investment and high-tech cultivation.

“I am very happy that we are here celebrating a success in your productivity levels for your onion,” he said, pointing out that the company has almost one 100 acres of land in the production of onion,...

AF/860/21

                                              BY: LATONYA LINTON

          Similarly to many other organisations, the Jamaica 4-H Clubs has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the pandemic has provided an opportunity for the organisation to repurpose its training programmes to online modality, and a number of its usual face- to-face events are also now utilising a virtual platform.

This year, the Jamaica 4-H Clubs is celebrating its 81st anniversary, and as is customary, will be hosting its National...

AF/841/21

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Banana Board, has launched a Plantain Pilot Project (PPP), which aims to establish 10 hectares (25 acres) of irrigated plantain production.

The objectives of the project are to increase overall production of plantains by 300 tonnes after year one, improve crop quality in keeping with local and international food safety standards, and improve availability of plantains on a sustained basis throughout the second year.

The project also aims to increase the awareness of the...

AF/852/21

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Government is in discussions with local and international interests to secure crop insurance for farmers.

 “Our discussions are progressing quite well with our insurance providers with relation to crop insurance. We have been engaging on two levels. We have been engaging locally across our local insurance providers to see what options they have,” he said.

Minister Green was speaking during the virtual launch of the Fisherfolk and Farmers General Insurance Package, being provided by...

AF/856/21

The country’s fisherfolk and farmers can now access insurance coverage for vessels, vehicles and accessories through Advantage General Insurance.

The insurance package, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, was launched during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday (June 22).

It is the first of its kind in the industry and will provide fishers registered with the National Fisheries Authority with access to insurance coverage developed specifically for their needs.

Farmers will also benefit from specially...

AF/862/21

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, says the proposed agricultural wardens programme will be piloted shortly as the Government intensifies measures to protect farmers against praedial larceny.

He said that the wardens will have power of arrest.

“We want to get people on the ground, just like the district constables, but they (agricultural wardens) will be tasked with protecting agricultural produce. They will have the powers of police officers. They will come from the [farming communities] and they will keep watching,” he...

AF/893/21

Senior Veterinary Specialist, Veterinary Services Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Suzanne McLennon-Miguel, says continuous collaboration between ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) is crucial in the development of effective food-safety control systems locally.

Speaking with JIS News, she said that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have established strategic food-safety plans that they have shared with other countries as these states work to develop their own food-safety...