Agriculture sector surging; bounced back stronger than expected from Melissa

Durrant Pate/ Contributor

Jamaica’s agricultural sector is now surging, with Portfolio Minister Floyd Green boasting that it has bounced back stronger than expected from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa back in October last year.

Making his Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives yesterday, Green argued, “many were expecting six months after the Category 5 storm, Jamaica’s agricultural sector would have still been in shortage with high prices being the order of the day. This has not been our reality from as early as January, 3 months after Hurricane Melissa, we saw the tremendous bounce back of local vegetable production.”

He trumpeted that local markets have been awash with some of the finest produce, reminding the parliament of the Bank of Jamaica assessment that “the direct impact of Hurricane Melissa on inflation was less severe than initially anticipated [due to] a faster-than-expected improvement in agricultural supplies”

Minister Green disclosed that Jamaica’s vegetable lines hit their highest ever production numbers in the 1st quarter of 2026, doing 12 per cent better than the first quarter of 2025. 

“The response of the agricultural sector to Hurricane Melissa reflects a true story of quick recovery, significant resilience and continued growth, even in the face of adversities, and our farmers must be acknowledged, he declared.

More work to be done

The Minister was quick to point out that this does not mean that all is well, noting, “we still have more work to be done to recover from Hurricane Melissa, as there are crop lines which, based on the extent of the damage, require more long-term support.” 

However, the recovery effort has been compounded by global realities such as the world’s food systems being under increasing pressure with global conflicts negatively impacting the agricultural sector, resulting in supply chain disruptions, and rising input costs, especially fertiliser, agro-chemicals and fuel. 

Phase one of our Hurricane Melissa Recovery Programme has gone extremely well, but we appreciate that some areas require longer-term intervention, and some farmers have not yet received any support. To this end, Phase 2 will seek to expand support in the areas needed, including additional support for our livestock farmers, our yam farmers, and our coffee farmers. 

The ministry will also be exploring a voucher system to provide direct support to those who were impacted but have yet to receive any support.”

Investing in recovery

The initial Phase 2 recovery programme is costed at J$250 million, which the Agriculture Ministry is hoping the Ministry of Finance will directly support. Until then, Green said his ministry will continue to finance the intervention.

Hurricane Melissa wiped out thousands of fruit trees, especially across the hardest hit parishes but under the National Fruit Tree Crop Programme, the ministry has redoubled its efforts to establish 3,000 acres of orchard crops by 2035, with a focus on ackee, breadfruit, mango, coconut and avocado. 

In addition, with the support of Trees That Feed, last year the ministry introduced three improved avocado varieties: Hass, Carla and Semil, with Minister Green announcing that this game-changing initiative is expected to support year-round production of avocado in Jamaica. 

According to him, “this will play a significant role in strengthening domestic supply, export potential as well as import substitution. We will continue our citrus redevelopment programme as we seek to revive our citrus industry. We are also making strides with the Wambugu Apple, which could serve as a replacement for the popular American apple.”

The ministry has tasked Don McGlashan and Locksley Waite to work with the Forestry Department, its seed certification unit and nurseries to rapidly expand the planting material base to start a drive this year to ensure that every household has at least one fruit tree.

Seed and Nursery Certification Unit

Acknowledging that no serious steps can be made towards Food Security unless there is a focus on planting material, especially in this changing climate, Green also announced the opening of the Seed and Nursery Certification Unit at the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine, under the Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch.

This new unit, which was opened earlier this month, will ensure the quality, genetic purity, and phytosanitary integrity of seeds and nursery stock used across the country. It will also allow us to ramp up the production of seeds, but importantly in keeping with international standards.