Agro-InvestNewsAgro
28 Nov 2023
0 Comments By Najay McLean Agro , ,

AGRO-INVEST PARTICIPATES IN MIIC/IDB MSME ROADSHOWS

The Agro-Investment Corporation actively participated in The Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce/Inter-American Development Bank – MSME Roadshows held August 10, November 1 and November 21, 2023.

The Roadshows were geared towards fostering growth and development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the country, by providing information about business development services, promoting awareness of financing opportunities, and facilitating connectivity between markets and customers. The MSME Roadshows contributed to the overall strengthening of the capacity of these enterprises.

Agro-Invest took the opportunity to promote investment opportunities within the Agribusiness industry during the Mandeville, St. Ann, and Kingston staging of the Roadshows. This not only helped in showcasing the potential of the agribusiness sector but also encouraged investment and collaboration within the industry.

Initiatives promoted by the Corporation are instrumental in creating a conducive environment for the growth of MSMEs, fostering economic development, and promoting investment within the agribusiness sphere.

15 Nov 2023
0 Comments By Najay McLean Agro , , , ,

Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival held November 9, 2023, at the Minard Estates Farm, Brown’s Town, St. Ann.

The 22nd annual Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival was an incredible experience for youngsters and Adults alike. The event was held on November 9th 2023 at the Minard Estates Farm, Brown’s Town, St. Ann.

These are the highlights from the Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival.

The Agro-Invest Booth where many students and adults gathered to learn about what we do!
They beat the boys in their tug of war!
The long-awaited Goat Scramble!
02 Oct 2023
0 Comments By Najay McLean Agro

Big Boost for Irish Potato and Onion Production

The Government will be spending $150 million to increase Irish potato production and $80 million to assist onion farmers as part of its strategy to boost the yield of specific crops, to ensure food security.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, said one of the objectives is to increase Irish potato production by 20 tons per hectare over the 2023 to 2024 period.

Speaking at the commencement of the 2023-2024 National Irish Potato and Onion Production and Productivity Incentive Programme, in Chudleigh, Manchester, on September 20, the Minister said the funds will be used to provide crop care and productivity support to a maximum of two hectares per farmer.

“We are going to use that $150 million, plus the support from our various partners, to establish nine validation plots, because we have to enhance our training programmes,” the Minister said.

Other activities will include the staging of farm tours for farmers not directly benefiting from training within the validation plots; strengthening marketing agreements/contracts between farmers and buyers by assisting at least 70 per cent of farmers participating with formal contracts; and field visits and monitoring of Irish potato best practices will be intensified.

Minister Green told his audience that Irish potato and onion development has been part of the Ministry’s priority programmes for a long time, because they contribute directly towards assisting more than 70,000 farmers and direct/indirect employment creation for more than 350,000 Jamaicans.

Areas targeted for Irish potato production are Guy’s Hill in St. Catherine, the Manchester belt, upper Westmoreland (Darliston area), and Mavis Bank in St. Andrew.

The Ministry is working with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) to rehabilitate the Coleyville Cold Storage Facilities in Christiana (Manchester), to provide more storage space for the produce.

Under the programme for onion farmers, they will be provided with technical support, seeds for planting, herbicides and equipment to include rotobedders (land preparation machines), seed planters and tractor service.

“To boost post-harvesting techniques, we have also identified storage in Spring Plains, Clarendon, and Twickenham Park in Spanish Town, St. Catherine,” the Minister said.

He said it has been observed that St. Thomas and St. Elizabeth have been consistently showing the best yields in onion production, adding that the farmers are “taking the training, they are adapting, and are seeing better yields, with focus on precise nutrition, pest and disease control, and soil testing.”

Article from JIS By: GARFIELD L. ANGUS, September 21, 2023

 

The Official Ceremony for the National Irish Potato and Onion Programme

Minister of Agriculture Visits Our Spring Plain Agro Park in Clarendon

Earlier On September 21, 2023, The Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, paid a special visit to the Spring Plain Agro Park to extend his congratulations to the Allium Group, a company comprised of members from the Potato & Onion Producers Association (POPA). During this visit, discussions revolved around their latest venture: the cultivation of acres of onions as part of the National Irish Potato & Onion Programme. This initiative represents a critical step towards boosting local onion production and aligning with the Jamaican government's policy to reduce import bills through expanded local production.

The primary goal of the Allium Group, led by Mr. Sherman Campbell, the President of POPA, is to harness the fertile land at Spring Plain to significantly enhance onion production, ultimately ensuring a consistent supply of onions within the country. This endeavor aligns perfectly with the broader objectives of the National Irish Potato & Onion Programme, which seeks to strengthen Jamaica's agricultural self-sufficiency and reduce its dependency on imports.

One of the key issues that the Allium Group aims to tackle is the nation's import bill. Jamaica, like many other countries, has traditionally relied on imported onions to meet its demand. However, this practice not only affects the country's trade balance but also poses risks related to supply chain disruptions and price fluctuations. By bolstering local onion production, the Allium Group intends to reduce this reliance on imports, ensuring a steady supply of onions to meet domestic needs.

 

14 Aug 2023
0 Comments By Najay McLean Agro

DENBIGH 2023 HIGHLIGHTS!

Denbigh 2023 was indeed a success! The Agro-Investment Corporation maintained a strong presence throughout the 69th staging of the Show, capturing the attention of the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica and the Hon. Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Mining.

Additionally, our Minard Estates Farm achieved remarkable success by securing top honours in all beef cattle categories, showcasing our commitment to excellence.

To the @denbighshowjamaica we thank you for including us as part of the greatest Agricultural Show in the Caribbean Region. To all the patrons who visited our booth and shared in our experience we say a BIG THANK YOU!!!

23 Jun 2023
0 Comments By Alecia Brown-Forbes Agro

SCOTCH BOYZ partners with AGRO-INVESTMENT CORPORATION…to grow Agro-processing operation

BY JOSIMAR SCOTT Senior reporter josimars@jamaicaobserver.com
Jun 23, 2023 12:02 am
CEO of Agro-Investment Corporation Vivion Scully (right) and Ebony Agro-Park Manager Georgia Curtis meet with Drew Gray (left) of Scotch Boyz and credit specialist Bradley Baugh about leasing five acres at the Agro-park in Clarendon.

 

Jamaican sauce producer Scotch Boyz has entered into a partnership with Agro-Investment Limited that will see the company ramp up its Agro-processing operations to meet growing demand for its products.

The company recently secured a lease of five acres of land at the Ebony Agro-Park in Clarendon through Agro-Invest. Scotch Boyz will use the parcel of land for the cultivation of a variety of Scotch bonnet peppers which feature heavily in its assortments of sauces and jerk seasoning.

According to Agro-Invest, the soil at the Ebony Agro-Park is “fertile, loamy [and] well-drained” making it suitable for producing high yields of a number of Scotch bonnet varieties. While the land lease has a five-year time span, it is renewable upon reaching maturity.

“We are thrilled to partner with Scotch Boyz in this land lease initiative to cultivate Scotch bonnet peppers at our Ebony Agro-Park in Clarendon,” said Vivion Scully, CEO at Agro-Invest.

An assortment of Scotch Boyz sauces.

“This venture aligns with our commitment to sustainable agriculture and addresses the rising demand for flavourful ingredients used in value-added products produced and exported by Jamaica. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in ensuring that exceptional products like those produced by Scotch Boyz permeate every corner of the globe,” he added.

Scotch Boyz started in Jamaica when four friends from Westmoreland entered a BBQ cooking competition using Scotch bonnet peppers as the main ingredients and won. Following the team’s successful submission, demand for the sauce began to grow and so the team agreed to bottle the sauce under the Scotch Boyz name.

That team includes Neil Hudson, now the CEO; Drew Gray, chief operating officer; Kemar Swaby, brand director; and Matthew Wallace, partnerships director.

Since its founding, the company has sold its products on its website and e-commerce platform Amazon. In April this year, the Scotch Boyz brand secured placement on the shelves of over 250 Target stores in the United States.

While the company continues to pursue partnerships with other distributors in the United States, it is also expanding into the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland.

“We are excited to partner with Agro-Invest to promote sustainable agriculture in Jamaica. We believe that sustainable agriculture is essential to the long-term health of our business and the Jamaican economy. We will be planting five acres of Scotch bonnet peppers to help shore up our supply of peppers,” Scotch Boyz founding partner Gray stated.

According to the Scotch Boyz website, the company sources raw materials from over 200 local farmers. It added that the operation can produce up to 80,000 bottles per day.

 

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at https://bit.ly/epaper-login

 

24 Feb 2023
0 Comments By Alecia Brown-Forbes Agro

NATIONAL FORESTRY CONFERENCE HELD DECEMBER 7-8, 2022

The Agro-Investment Corporation was invited to the Forestry Department’s “National Forestry Conference” which was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Downtown Kingston. The Corporation participated in the conference by virtue of a physical exhibition where the main display was an artistic representation of the tree planting MOU between Agro-Invest and the Forestry Department.  Support for the event was also given through staff participation in the plenary discussions over the two days. The presence of Agro-Invest at the conference was well received by the Forestry Department and patrons at the two-day event.  The presence of Agro-Invest at the conference was well received by the Forestry Department and patrons at the two-day event. Several persons expressed interest in Agro-Invest products and services, particularly the leasing of lands for commercial agriculture and the formulation of agri-business plans.

 

 

Tree Planting Model on display.
Our team discussing investment opportunities with a guest at the conference.
Another guest at the conference receiving information on our products and services.
24 Feb 2023
0 Comments By Alecia Brown-Forbes Agro

WORLD SOIL DAY EVENT HELD DECEMBER 5, 2022, AT THE EBONY HEART ACADEMY, TOLL GATE CLARENDON

The Agro-Investment Corporation was invited to be an exhibitor at the World Soil Day event hosted by the Agricultural Land Management Division (ALMD) celebrated under the theme “Soils, Where Food Begins”.  The event was held at the Ebony Park Heart Academy in Toll Gate, Clarendon.

The Agro-Invest team presented various products and services to students and engaged patrons with regards to the Corporation and its purpose within the Agricultural Sector as well as the importance of soil management on our Agro Parks and Production Zones.

Students from the Ebony Park Heart NSTA visiting the Agro-Invest booth to learn more about the Corporation’s products and services
24 Feb 2023
0 Comments By Alecia Brown-Forbes Agro

MINARD LIVESTOCK SHOW AND BEEF FESTIVAL HELD NOVEMBER 10, 2022 AT THE MINARD ESTATES FARM, BROWN’S TOWN, ST. ANN

The Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival has become a great brand for the agricultural sector as it provides a practical educational experience for our young farmers and was held on November 10, 2022 at the Minard Estates Farm, Brown’s Town, St. Ann.

For this year’s 21st staging the theme “Smart livestock production: Safer, Cleaner, Better” emphasized the national priorities of having adequate, accessible, affordable and wholesome quantities of livestock products and by-products to satisfy local demand, thus ensuring food security for our nation.

See highlights from the Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival.

Students from Knox Junior School with their prizes from Agro-Invest.
Boys from ages 9 – 12 getting ready to participate in the goat scramble. Winner takes home the goat.
Goats being lined up for the boys and girls mixed Goat Scramble.
05 Jan 2023
0 Comments By Alecia Brown-Forbes Agro

WORLD FOOD DAY 2022 NATIONAL CEREMONY & EXHIBITION HELD AT VERE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL HAYES, CLARENDON ON OCTOBER 20, 2022

On October 20, 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries its Agencies and the Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) celebrated World Food Day 2022, and hosted a National Ceremony and Exhibition held the Vere Technical High School in Hayes, Clarendon under the theme: “Leave no one behind: Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all”

The National Ceremony and Exhibition was geared towards promoting food security, better nutrition and a better life for our Jamaican people. There were a total of 17 exhibitors that participated in the event. Students received lots of prizes  and surprises from our booth and were very keen on learning all about our products and services and what we do as an Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Here are a few highlights from the day’s event at our Agro-Invest booth as well as a video link from our IG page.

CLICK THE LINK TO VIEW OUR IG VIDEO:https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cj8elKCvENe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

WORLD FOOD DAY 2022 – HIGHLIGHTS

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