GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government says it has signed a US$38 million agreement to provide rice to Venezuela. A Government statement said that the agreement is the “largest ever signed” by the two governments and secured during President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent visit to the neighbouring country in July. The accord was nitially inked by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud and Venezuela’s... 

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada has resumed the importation of bananas from neighbouring St. Vincent and the Grenadines after a prolonged drought season seriously affected banana cultivation, officials said. The Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB) said that it would import the fruit on a fortnightly basis until local farmers are able to meet consumer demands. “We are just coming... 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC- A two week fish stock assessment workshop began here on Monday with  Agriculture Minister  Haynesley Benn underscoring the importance of the sector to the sustenance, livelihood and recreation of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries. “…these resources are renewable and to some extent resilient to change.  However, the ability of fish stocks to renew themselves and... 

Persaud GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud says the government is moving to ensure that Guyana is not negatively affected by a potential global food crisis. Persaud said the government, through the Agriculture Ministry, is raising its guard in light of predictions of a crisis set to take hold by 2012. A recent report from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation... 

Walter ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government Monday outlined a new package of assistance to help revitalize the banana industry as well as the agricultural sector. Agriculture Minister Mathew Walter said that the Roosevelt Skerrit government is also making available one million EC dollars (US$370,370) through the Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank (AID Bank) for lending to farmers... 

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) says the island exporter sector continues to perform well despite economic challenges and that the non-traditional domestic products and foods earned J$15 billion (US$173.7 million) during the first quarter of this year. JEA president Vitus Evans said that the revenues were approximately six billion (US$70.6 million) more than that... 

Persaud GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – A study is being conducted here to explore the possibilities of obtaining fair trade for the exports of rice from Guyana and Suriname, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has said. “This concept of pursuing fair trade in terms of ensuring that farmers get the best price … it’s something our government is interested in supporting,” Persaud said. A World... 

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Trade unions leaders say they have not been told about the fate of workers at three sugar estates recently acquired by a Chinese company from the Jamaica government. Chairman of the All Island Cane Farmers Association, Alan Rickards said he is waiting to see what will be the relationship between the unions and the new management. “The unions need to know exactly what... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has signed an agreement with one of the largest supermarket chains that will allow the state-owned sugar company to re-enter the Suriname market after a two year absence. In 2008, Guyana reduced its supply of sugar to Suriname and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries by 80,000 tonnes as a result of the inclement weather... 

Golding KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government said it had no choice but to pursue the divestment of the sugar industry as it signed an agreement with a Chinese firm to take control of three sugar estates held by the Sugar Corporation of Jamaica (SCJ). “Notwithstanding, in more recent times, a real concerted effort to divest the industry did not succeed, we felt that it was something... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat says issues pertaining to the CARICOM Common Fisheries Policy have been discussed at a high level meeting in St. Lucia earlier this week. It said the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) met to discuss sustainable fisheries development as mandated by the Council following a meeting... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana is working with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to develop a flood-tolerant variety of rice so as to significantly reduce the impact the severe weather is having on rice farms in the country. The Burma Rice Research Station’s chief scientist and plant breeder, Dr. Mahendra Persaud, said that planting of the new variety should begin soon. Persaud... 

The effects of the disease on a banana leaf CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Agricultural officials say they are devising a national plan to combat the dreaded Black Sigatoka disease amid fears that if could destroy the vital banana industry in St. Lucia. The disease was discovered in three areas on the island earlier this year and is spreading throughout an industry that is already hit by low production,... 

Persaud said the Jagdeo administration was “maintaining its objectives of ensuring that farmers are not ripped off by millers and exporters”. *Photo credit: www.kaieteurnewsonline.com GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government has warned rice millers and exporters to end their abuse of rice farmers. The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Producers Association (RPA)... 

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada’s parched western agricultural district could be declared a disaster zone when the rainy season comes, local officials have predicted. The rainy season is due within months and officials fear that a severe drought which ravaged the country’s agriculture sector could result in flooding and landslides particularly the western agricultural belt. Officials... 

CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrongton. Photo credit: www.cdera.org (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The special meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture held in Paramaribo, Suriname on Friday marked a critical landmark in the development of the agriculture sector in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), His Excellency Edwin Carrington,... 

Rufus Bousquet. Phot credit: www.stlucia.gov.lc CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Rufus Bousquet has raised questions about a proposed European Union (EU) compensation package to banana producers in the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Bousquet said that while he is concerned about the amount of money involved in the package he is also worried as to how... 

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA) is blaming the prolonged dry season for the 20 per cent decline in banana production in the Windward Islands. WINFA coordinator, Renrick Rose, said that while the banana fruit has been affected by the Black Sikatoga disease in St. Lucia and St. Vincent, examination of available figures show that the dry conditions have also... 

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud. *Photo credit: www.stabroeknews.com GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has arrived in Israel as part of an effort by the Bharrat Jagdeo government to further diversify the agricultural sector. A statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture said that Persaud has already held talks with his counterpart, Shalom Simhon, “and discussed... 

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Communication among Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and coordination among national and regional bodies, the private sector and consumers were critical to the success of the Caribbean, the Hon. Kermechend Raghoebarsing, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of Suriname said Thursday. Speaking at the inauguration... 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The agency upon which the region will depend to strengthen agricultural health and food safety and ensure the highest standards for trade in agricultural products, was launched here this week. The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), which was inaugurated at an elaborate ceremony on Thursday, was given the green light last week in Roseau,... 

Alcee shows the presence of Black Sigatoka on a banana plant. *Photo credit: OECS Secretariat CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – An official at the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat has expressed concern that the presence of a deadly leaf fungus in some member countries can cause serious harm to the agriculture industry, particularly those dependent on bananas. Agriculture Economist... 

Black Sigatoka evident on this banana leaf. GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government is calling for a Caribbean approach to deal with the deadly Black Sigatoka disease now affecting the plantain and banana industry in the region. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said the approach to dealing with the fungal disease would require the support and cooperation of all including researchers, regional... 

Black Sigatoka is a leaf spot disease that can cut a banana tree's fruit production in half. The fungal disease causes dark leaf spots that eventually enlarge, causing much of the leaf area to turn yellow and brown. CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Agriculture officials have confirmed that Black Sigatoka, a dangerous fungal disease, has been discovered in St Lucia and threatens the struggling banana... 

“We are hoping that in the coming months that we have concrete proposals so that we could start working to benefit the farmers,” Fernandez said. ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Government of Spain has committed to provide support to the agriculture industry in Antigua and Barbuda. The promise of assistance was made during a meeting on Wednesday between Agriculture Minister Hilson Baptiste and... 

Oranges affected by the bacteria 'Citrus Leprosis'. *Photo credit: photos.eppo.org BELMOPAN,  Belize, CMC – Belize agricultural officials have restricted the movement of plants in the south of the country after the bacteria, Citrus Leprosis, had been detected in Hopkins and the Pomona Valley areas. Leprosis causes a reduction in citrus yields and the eventual death of trees. It is considered... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – A three-day national symposium exploring strategies to cover losses in the agricultural sector began here on Monday with Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud underscoring the importance of an insurance facility as a means of attracting investment into the sector. Persaud recalled the devastating impact on the agriculture sector four years ago when floods wiped out 60 percent... 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Edwin Carrington has criticised Latin American countries for continuing to push Caribbean banana producers out of the European market even while indicating a willingness to enter into a closer relationship with the region. Carrington was responding to the latest agreement reached between Europe and Latin America to end... 

LONDON, CMC – A leading British banana advocate has warned about the serious impact on Caribbean bananas if Britain’s shoppers do not keep faith with fair trade. Alistair Smith, international coordinator of the co-operative Banana Link, sounded the warning bell as Europe and Latin America prepare to declare a ceasefire in the 16-year “banana wars,” - one of the world’s longest-running... 

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – St. Lucia’s Agriculture Minister Ezechiel Joseph says he is confident that the banana industry will survive despite fears that Caribbean countries may have to contend with Europe having to implement further tariff cuts and reduce preferential treatment for the entry of the commodity on the European market. In 1997, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled that the EU’s... 

ROME, Italy, CMC – Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo is urging  the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to be more supportive of a plan by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries that would further develop the agricultural sector in the region. “We have a regional plan which we are pursuing and we are receiving support but sometimes the relatively higher GDP (Gross Domestic... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President is to attend the World Summit on Food Security being organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome next week. Jagdeo, who has lead responsibility for agriculture in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) quasi Cabinet, said he would use the November 16-18 summit to push for assistance for developing countries including the Caribbean. “I would be... 

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Tillman Thomas administration has sought assistance from the Egyptian government to assist with the development of the local agriculture sector. A government statement said the matter was raised during a meeting with Egypt’s Ambassador to Grenada, Ali Saleh Mohamed Mourad, where Prime Minister Thomas laid out a special case for help for Grenadian farmers. “We... 

#gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } Photo caption: Mrs. Valarie James receives a plaque on behalf of her husband Mr. Joseph James from Minister... 

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Agriculture ministers from the 34 hemispheric countries of the Americas begin a meeting here on Wednesday hoping to adopt a plan of action for the development of the sector in the region. Jamaica’s Agriculture Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton. *Photo credit: unmultimedia.org Jamaica’s Agriculture Minister said that the plan of action, if approved at the 5th Ministerial...