Category Archives: News

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, has indicated that ongoing discussions are being held with investors showing interest in the acquisition of certain sugar estates. Speaking at the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) inaugural post-crop seminar in Mandeville on September 21, Mr. Samuda said he is hoping to close a deal with prospectiveContinue reading “Discussions in Progress for Divestment of Sugar Factories”

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) is to create a standard to effectively protect the local sugar industry from illegally imported sugar. This disclosure was made by Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, at the opening of a two-day Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) seminar and exposition in Mandeville on September 21. Mr.Continue reading “Standard to be Developed for Imported Sugar”

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Fisheries, Reginald Budhan is calling for an explosion of small business and smallholder activities across the region. He was speaking on September 26 at the opening session of a two-day Regional Agri-Value Chain Forum organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation (IICA) and held atContinue reading “Acting PS Budhan Calls for Increased MSME Financing”

The Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, continues to push for more young people to get involved in the agriculture sector. “We have to get (more) young people working to ensure that we grow the crops we need in sufficient quantities and to also enable us to export. Let’s have anContinue reading “Agriculture Minister wants more Youth Involved in Sector”

Director of the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP), Petronia Colley, says globalisation and expanding international trade have made it easier for Jamaican producers to find an opening in emerging markets overseas. Ms. Colley, who was speaking at a two-day training seminar on ‘Farm Enterprise Management’, at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall hotel, St. James, on AugustContinue reading “Jamaican Producers Benefit from Globalisation – Head of the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP)”

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the agro park concept will be expanded across the length and breadth of Jamaica. Currently, there are nine parks in operation. “When I speak of an agro park, I’m speaking of a defined area where all of the facilities can be brought to bear,Continue reading “Agro Parks to be Expanded”

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, is reporting that work is advanced for the application of a cess on all imported coffee. Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dermon Spence, said that most of the legislative work to facilitate the move has been completed. He was delivering a speech on behalf of PortfolioContinue reading “Work Advanced on Legislation for Cess on Imported Coffee”

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, is calling for banks to lower interest rates to single digit, in order to boost production and growth within the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. He cited agriculture as one sector which cannot grow with an interest rate that exceeds four per cent.Continue reading “Samuda Calls for Lowering of Interest Rates on MSME Loans”

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says the agro-economic zones being created by the Government will enable small farmers to access modern processing facilities. According to the Minister, nothing that the farmers produce should go to waste, and every effort will be made to assist withContinue reading “Minister Emphasises Importance of Agro-Economic Zones”

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says the Government is committed to using the agricultural sector as a catalyst for increased economic growth. Addressing stakeholders at a training workshop on Farm Enterprise Management at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall, Montego Bay, on August 29, Mr. HutchinsonContinue reading “Hutchinson Emphasises Importance of Agriculture to Growth”