24 Feb 2023

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

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

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

        Read More

18 Nov 2022

THE AGRO-INVESTMENT CORPORATION TO HOST AGRICULTURAL EXPORT WEBINAR

JOIN Agro-Invest as we host our Agricultural Export Webinar on November 24, 2022, under the theme: “AGRI-EXPORTS IN A GLOBAL MARKET – BREAKING THE BARRIERS…YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS”. The Webinar is geared towards providing relevant information to Agribusiness stakeholders on the process required to become an exporter while addressing the critical areas such as, agricultural export regulations for exporting, the opportunities available for Jamaican exporters, and how to finance an agricultural export business. The webinar seeks to be an engaging one and will see several presenters providing informative content and discussions into key aspects of the agricultural exporting arena.

Objectives of the Webinar: 

The webinar will seek to stimulate interest in the export of agricultural produce.

Specific objectives are:

  • To provide a platform for sharing and learning about exporting Jamaican produce
  • To allow farmers/investors to learn more about the export process
  • To provide a platform for learning about the export opportunities available for Jamaican produce.
  • To provide a platform for learning about the export registration process and regulations.
  • To provide a platform for investors to learn about financing their agribusiness for export.

Presenters:

  • JAMPRO – Topic: ‘Agricultural Export/Market Opportunities’
  • Jamaica Customs Agency – Topic: ‘Export Requirements for Agricultural Produce/Products’
  • Plant Quarantine Produce Inspection – Topic: ‘The Plant Quarantine’s Requirements and Inspection Process for Produce Export’
  • National Peoples Cooperative (PC Bank) – Topic: ‘How to Finance your Agricultural Export Business’

The Agicultural Export Webinar will be presented live on MICROSOFT TEAMS from 10:00am – 12:00pm.

JOIN US LIVE as we look forward to having your presence and participation.

Kindly register using the link: http://bit.ly/3EJjrrl

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 252 227 279 191
Passcode: 7MggvM

18 Nov 2022

NATIONAL TREE PLANTING DAY – OCTOBER 7, 2022

October 7, 2022, marked the 20th National Tree Planting Day which is a wonderful initiative conceptualized by the Forestry Department.  This year the National Tree Planting Day ceremony was held at our Ebony Agro Park in Clarendon where several trees were planted in commemoration of Jamaica 60.

The trees planted will be transgenerational as it is a deliberate way to ensure the delivery of habitable climate and food security for our future generation. The fruit, timber and ornamental trees planted will boost economic activity in the agriculture sector and confront environmental degradation.

JOIN IN and assist in ‘Restoring Jamaica, one tree at a time’. PLANT A TREE TODAY!!!

Kudos to everyone who planted a tree on National Tree Planting Day and played their part in resorting Jamaica one tree at a time.

#TreePlantingDay

#Treesforfoodsecurity

#trees4life

Owen Scarlett (Acting CEO – Agro-Invest) giving his remarks at the National Tree Planting Day Ceremony – October 7, 2022

[Click on the photo to view our Instagram reel on the day’s activities]

05 Sep 2022

Expanded Youth In Agriculture Programme

On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 9 of 30 youths received their lease agreements through our expanded Youth in Agriculture Programme in conjunction with @jamaica4hclubs and @radajm.

Agro-Investment Corporation is on a fast track to ensure that at least 20% of the Agricultural lands we manage are reserved for the youths to assist them in their agricultural pursuits.

Youths will be placed across our Agro Parks and Production Zones and will plant crops such as sweet potato, hot peppers, okra, tomato, lettuce and several other priorities and cash crops.

 

04 May 2022

HANDOVER OF LEASES TO YOUTH INVESTORS

HANDOVER OF LEASES TO YOUTH INVESTORS

On April 27, 2022, lease agreements were handed over to eleven (11) of the forty (40) youths selected for placement at the Toll Gate Mango Agro Park under the expansion of the Youth in Agriculture Programme.  The programme is expected to:

  1. Increase access to government-owned Agro Park and Production Zone lands for eligible young farmers.
  2. Improve the economic and social status of the youths.
  3. Increase agribusiness knowledge and entrepreneurial skills among young farmers.
  4. Focus on youths and technology and form clusters led by youths to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration in agribusiness activities.
  5. Create sustainable linkages between young farmers and stakeholders in the agribusiness sector.

Youth investors pose with documents at the handover of leases to 11 investors to be placed on lands across the Agro Parks and Production Zones that are managed by the Agro-Investment Corporation. Ceremony was held at the Toll Gate Mango Agro-Park on April 27, 2022.

04 May 2022

ADDITIONAL $70 MILLION FOR MANGO AGRO PARK INVESTMENT

AN ADDITIONAL $70 MILLION FOR MANGO AGRO PARK INVESTMENT

Government will be investing an additional $70 million this financial year to support the extension of irrigation services at the Toll Gate Mango Agro Park in Clarendon. This follows an initial $128 million that was expended by the Ministry to establish irrigation for 60 acres as well as roads and drainage system for the 935-acre property.

“This illustrates a level of commitment to helping you the investors within these agricultural spaces. We want you not just to strive, but we need for you to thrive, and the government has the responsibility of making sure that your investment is protected,” stated Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pearnel Charles Jr.

The announcement was made at the handover of leases to 13 investors for land at the Toll Gate Mango Agro Park on April 27, 2022.

The investors have committed to invest at least $20 million in the production of high-quality East Indian and St. Julian mangoes on 935 acres of land for export to established markets in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and the Cayman Islands.

The Minister outlined that strategic management and technical support will be provided by the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC) to the mango investors to foster market linkages and manage the value chain.

He commended the mango investors on their investment and the agencies involved – Agro-Invest, the National Irrigation Commission, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, and the Jamaica 4-H Clubs – for their contribution to the project, describing it as “an amazing start.

Mango investors pose with documents at the handover of leases to 13 investors for the cultivation of East Indian and St. Julian mangoes on the 935-acre property managed by the Agro-Investment Corporation, held at the Toll Gate Mango Agro-Park on April 27, 2022.

11 Apr 2022

ARGO INVESTMENT FORUM

THE AGRO-INVESTMENT CORPORATION TO HOST HYBRID

AGRIBUSINESS INVESTMENT FORUM

 

JOIN Agro-Invest as we host our first Hybrid Agribusiness Investment Forum on April 21, 2022, under the theme: “Investments in Agriculture – Driving Food Security”. The forum is intended to highlight the investment opportunities in agriculture while addressing the critical areas such as: land availability for agricultural investments, export opportunities and requirements, access to finance, Agri-entrepreneurship, opportunities in Agro-processing, crop market availability and development, environmental impact on food security, amongst others.

The forum seeks to be an engaging one and will see several speakers providing informative content and discussions into key aspects of the agricultural business sphere.  The Agribusiness Investment Forum will be presented concurrently through two platforms; one is live presentations from guest speakers with an interactive live stream via Zoom that will accommodate 750 – 1000 participants with question-and-answer segments, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel from 10:00am – 2:00pm. The second is an Outside Broadcast aired on Nationwide News Network with Cliff Hughes during Cliff Hughes Online from 10:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. This format will allow for engagement of participants and the listening public, including current and potential investors locally and overseas, as well as private and public sector stakeholders.

The Honourable Pearnel Charles Jr. will be in attendance to give his keynote address. The Permanent Secretary Dermon Spence, and other distinguished guests will be in attendance.

JOIN US LIVE as we look forward to having your presence and participation.

Kindly register using the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc–hpj4vH9N6FToyo3lpqxogU69d6hTM

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