Data Bank and Evaluation Division
The Data Bank and Evaluation Division is responsible for providing the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands agricultural commodity associations, other agricultural and allied bodies, farmers and international agencies with a statistical service by the timely collection, storage, evaluation, retrieval and dissemination of agricultural data and information.
Services offered by the Data Bank Division
The division provides the public with access to all aspects of statistical data on the Jamaican agriculture sector. These data are available in various publications, which are available at a nominal fee. Specialised searches and reports from the division’s computerised databases are made on request. The data is made available free of charge with the exception of publications mentioned above and computerised database searches. The public can make requests directly to the division for specific data. Selected reports on farm gate prices, acreage in production etc. are posted on the Ministry’s website.
Epidemiology and Surveillance
This area has two main categories – Epidemiology and Surveillance
and Apiculture
The
former provides for the technical support and co-ordination of the
plant protection research into the outbreak and eradication of epidemic
diseases in plants. Apiculture provides extension services to beekeepers
in all parishes. The officers in this Unit, register beekeepers
and apiaries, monitor and assist eradication of the exotic bee pests
and disease, monitor the importation of bee and pest products, and
conduct research projects.
Research and Development
The
Research and Development programme has been implemented to generate
and disseminate cost-effective technology for the general improvement
of agricultural production in order to attain self-sufficiency in
meat, dairy, orchard and field crops and increase the potential
for export agricultural products. The areas targeted are:
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Livestock
Research and Improvement to improve livestock production and
productivity |
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Crop
Research and Development to examine domestic food crops and
traditional export crops to identify the most cost-effective
system of production and to introduce improved, adaptable and
acceptable crop varieties. |
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Plant
Protection Post Entry Plant Quarantine screens the entry of
imported planting materials in an effort to minimise the entry
of pests and diseases into the island. |
The
research section is also concerned with the continuous improvement
of cattle, pigs and goats as well as the development of feeding
systems.
Regional and International Co-operation
The
Regional and International Co-operation Programme makes provision
for Jamaica’s contributions to international and commonwealth
organisations which are related to agriculture. These organisations
assist member states to improve the quality of life of its people
through the:
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Simulation of agricultural and rural development |
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Strengthening
of institutions |
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Undertaking
of research |
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Provision
of adequate and appropriate training to meet manpower needs
These initiatives are aimed at increasing production, productivity
and nutrition levels.
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Agricultural Marketing and Credit
The
objective of this Programme is to assist producers of agricultural
products, as well as producer-organisations, in marketing their
production, both locally and overseas. This is done through market
research, dissemination of information, pre-clearance and fumigation
as required by the United States Agriculture (USDA) and continuing
inspection for quality control. Supervision and assistance in credit
to small farmers is also included the programme.
Agricultural Credit
The
Ministry undertakes the supervision and regulation of Peoples Co-operative
(PC) Banks and provides training and guidance in ethical requirements,
prudent management inspection and audit, as well as assisting farmers
with proper documentation and collateral for loans. The objectives
this programme are as follows:
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Train staff to effectively supervise, inspect and audit the
PC Banks |
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Produce
and distribute operating guidelines and ethical requirements
for the maintenance of prudent management and operation of these
institutions |
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Facilitate
the required risk insurance to cover operations and stakeholders
of the PC Bank system |
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Recover
outstanding loans from past loan programmes |
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Provide
assistance to farmers in the area of collateralisation under
the Facilities Titles Act |
Veterinary Services
The
Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry has responsibility
for animal health on a national basis. Its mission is the advancement
of animal production and productivity and the enhancement of human
health and nutrition through the maintenance of a healthy animal
population.
Its main functions include:
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Disease surveillance aimed at prevention, control and eradication
of animal diseases |
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Advice
on matters of animal health an the provision of laboratory and
field support services to veterinarians and public health programmes |
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Facilitate
international trading in animals and animal products through
inspection and certification of farms and processing plants |
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Agricultural Extension Services
Extension services to the agricultural sector island-wide is provided by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) which promotes and supports agricultural production in rural communities by ensuring the provision of technical, marketing, financial and infrastructural facilities and assisting with the development of he social services required for the improvement in the quality of life of farm families.
In addition to its technical and advisory role, The Authority carries out an extensive farmer-training programme, assists small farmers in organising co-operative marketing ventures, disseminates information on plants, crops and animal husbandry and provides agricultural service centres at strategic locations around the country. |
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This section of the Ministry aims at developing strategies to facilitate land use administration, environmental controls and resource management to enhance the social and economic well-being of the nation. In the furtherance of its objectives the Ministry is assigned responsibility for:
1) |
Land development and administration |
2) |
National physical planning to ensure orderly development and utilization of land and other resources |
3) |
Environmental protection and conservation which relates to protection and conservation of the natural resources of the country including its coastal zones |
The agencies which fall under the Ministry and carry out policy implementation include the following:
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Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) |
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Town Planning Department |
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Land Development and Utilization Commission |
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Negril/Green Island Area Local Authority |
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Real Estate Board |
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The Town and Country Planning Authority |
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The National Land Agency (This Executive Agency, in transition, was created from the merging of the former Land Valuation and Estate Department, Registrar of Titles and Survey Department) |
Rural Development
The objects of this Programme are to:
i. Achieve efficient land administration and land use within a framework of sustainable development;
ii. Reduce land idleness through the activities of the Land Development and Utilization Commission set up under the Land Development and Utilization Act 1966.
The Programme includes schemes for divestment of Government-owned lands, dealing mainly with the valuation of land, updating of valuations, land surveys, the registration of titles to land and the management of Government-owned land.
The Land and Development Utilization Commission is responsible for the units and taking steps to ensure the proper development and utilization of idle land and units, including the monitoring of the usage of divested properties.
National Land Agency
The National Land Agency (NLA) is a direct response to the National Land Policy (NLP) of 1996, with its goal to streamline the land titling process and modernise land registration systems. This will include developing a customer oriented service delivery system for all programme operations; providing a decision support infrastructure by way of a comprehensive mapping programme; and supporting the land settlement and titling process in Jamaica.
The NLA was created to deliver services more efficiently, effectively and with greater accountability, using available resources for the benefit of customers and taxpayers. The agency will be accountable for achieving results through a formal system of performance measurement and will provide land information, land registration, survey and property valuation support to ensure security of tenure, equitable land valuation and a sound basis for planning and development.
The NLA will be responsible for:
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Providing land related information to clients |
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Issuing titles under the Registration of Titles Act and the Registration of Strata Titles Act |
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Land Development and Utilization Commission |
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Registering all dealings related to existing titles |
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Maintaining the valuation roll for property taxation |
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Valuation of land taxation and non-taxation purposes |
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Checking survey plans in accordance with the Land Surveyors Act |
Town Planning Department
The Town Planning Department was established to maintain efficient land use islandwide, through the provision of land use and density regulations. It also ensures that land will be available to satisfy the needs of all activities in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act and the Local Improvement Act. This is achieved through the preparation and promulgation of Development Orders, which establish planning policies to ensure a more effective use of urban and rural lands.
Development Orders are being finalised for Manchester and Negril and work on that for Kingston and St. Andrew is continuing. The issuing of these Development Orders will:
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Lower the incidence of non-conforming land usage in urban areas, particularly those listed above |
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Provide a more efficient service for assessing and processing development and sub-division applications and satisfying enquiries islandwide |
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Improve the awareness of the role and function of Town and Country Planning in the island’s development |
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Provide source document for areas under planning control |
Planning and Research
The objectives of the Planning and Research Division of the Town Planning Department are to:
(i) |
Reflect national/regional and urban development policies in physical planning terms; |
(ii) |
Maintain efficient use of all land resources through complementary land and use density zoning, based on projections and trends, thus ensuring that land will be available for whatever use proposed, when so required; |
(iii) |
Achieve a balanced and comprehensive development of land throughout the island; |
(iv) |
Complement existing knowledge of Town and Country Planning and Development; |
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Provide answers to basic questions relating to planning; |
(vi) |
Provide a better understanding of the nature of the physical environment of urban and rural areas, the social, economic, governmental, legal, technical and aesthetic forces that fashion them and the inter-relationship between urbanization and society. |
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| Rural Physical Planning
The objectives of this division are to provide advice on land use proposals, undertake crop zoning exercises, assist with the National land Divestment Programme, provide soil surveys and land capability assessments to farmers in support of the Ministry’s projects.
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Subject Areas
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Agricultural
Commodities |
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Agricultural
Research |
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Agricultural
Marketing |
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Fisheries |
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Forests |
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Irrigation |
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Livestock
Industry |
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Plant
Protection Quarantine |
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Produce
Inspection |
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Public
and Botonical Gardens |
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Sugar
Industry |
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Veterinary
Service |
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| DEPARTMENTS |
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Agricultural
Credit Board |
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Agricultural
Development Corporation |
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Agricultural
Marketing Corporation |
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Commodity
Boards (including Banana, Coffee and Coconut Industry Boards and Tobacco Industry Control Authority) |
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Boards
and Tobacco Industry Control Authority) |
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4
H Clubs |
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Forestry
Department |
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National
Irrigation Commission Limited |
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Rural
Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) |
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Sugar
Corporation of Jamaica |
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Sugar
Industry Authority |
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Veterinary
Board |
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