The Ministry is embarking on another major irrigation scheme to lift water from the Black River to the Pedro plains of southern St. Elizabeth. This project, under the National Irrigation Commission Ltd. (NIC), will progress through the environmental impact assessment phase with some $304 million budgeted for expenditure in the 2022-2023 financial year to conduct surveys and cadastral mapping for the project area.

Over the current 2022-2023 period, we will be funding the costs to prepare up to one acre of land free of cost for 5,000 farmers targeting especially youth and women. This will cost approximately $63 million.

Purchase of additional drones to help strengthen the technical capability of the use of drones in agriculture

A new pre-registration system for farmers will also be launched in this month to capture more farmers in the industry so they can benefit from services offered by RADA.

A farmer identification express service starting this month where farmers will receive their new identification card within five days, while renewals will be delivered within three days.

To redress these poor and unsustainable fishing practices the Ministry, on the recommendations of the NFA, will this year introduce to parliament regulations for the establishment of minimum sizes for our most important categories of reef fish species.

For the 2022-2023 period, Madam Speaker, we are targeting the establishment of 350 new enterprises (Agribusinesses), an additional 575 schools gardens, including increased technologies such as greenhouses, hydroponics, aquaponics and 550 family home garden.

For the 2022-2023 period, Madam Speaker, we are targeting the establishment of 350 new enterprises (Agribusinesses), an additional 575 schools gardens, including increased technologies such as greenhouses, hydroponics, aquaponics and 550 family home garden.

For the 2022-2023 period, Madam Speaker, we are targeting the establishment of 350 new enterprises (Agribusinesses), an additional 575 schools gardens, including increased technologies such as greenhouses, hydroponics, aquaponics and 550 family home garden.

For the 2022-2023 period, Madam Speaker, we are targeting the establishment of 350 new enterprises (Agribusinesses), an additional 575 schools gardens, including increased technologies such as greenhouses, hydroponics, aquaponics and 550 family home garden.

For the upcoming year, an additional 283.3 hectares (700 acres) of land will be put into agricultural production through the Agro Investment Corporation (AIC), using production zones and private properties as well as starting the process of land utilization and production on the Holland Estate property.

Establishing a Name and Shame Campaign, with the names and photos of convicted praedial larcenists published in the print and electronic media.

Facilitating the establishment of Farm Watch/ Beach Watch groups to build farmer/fisher capacity to reduce vulnerability.

Facilitation of drone technology training for members of established Praedial Larceny Units to patrol farming communities. – Encouraging greater use of technology to assist with the securing of farms.

Creation of a training curriculum for the proposed Agricultural Wardens Programme to assist the police in carrying out enforcement activities.