jamaica

KINGSTON, April 18 (JIS):

The Banana Board is urging plantain and banana farmers to make a report should their crops show any signs of the Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease as the country remains on high alert.

The disease is considered one of the most notable diseases in the history of agriculture and is the most destructive disease to have affected bananas, plantains and the Heliconia plant.

The fungus spreads through infected plant materials and infested soil particles attached to any item such as farm tools, shoes, clothes, animals, and vehicles.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is calling on local farmers to become soil doctors through its Global Soil Doctors Programme. This is among several efforts being made by the Ministry to achieve sustainable soil health and management, using science and technology.

On Wednesday, July 7, 2021, Junior McDonald, a fisher was the feature guest on the Ministry's Agrobuzz radio feature on RJR 94 fm. Mr. McDonald spoke of the importance of fisherfolks having access to insurance.

Click here to listen 

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says an additional $1billion has been allocated to the Ministry’s Productivity Incentive Programme (PIP) to assist small farmers in light of challenges being experienced because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Shaw said the sum is contained in the early supplementary budget recently tabled in Parliament by Finance and the Public Service Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke.