Jamaica drafts 10-year Grow Forward farm plan with FAO as crop output hits record high

With technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jamaica has finished a draft of its 10-year National Agricultural Development Plan, branded Grow Forward. Officials will now gather input from stakeholders before the document is finalised.

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green brought the draft before Parliament on Wednesday during his presentation for the 2026-2027 Sectoral Debate. He said he anticipates the plan being laid on the table for approval before the second quarter of the current financial year.

Green also outlined a push to put up 95 greenhouses in four parishes before the end of this calendar year. He reported that national food output in the most recent year ranked as the second highest ever recorded, climbing more than five per cent above the prior year's level.

The minister said Grow Forward is organised around four priority themes: resilient, sustainable and efficient production systems; competitive and innovative agri-businesses and value chains; efficient agricultural trade; and food security and nutrition.

Even as work on the plan continues, Green stressed that production trends remain encouraging. He told the House that domestic crop output held up despite severe weather late in the year.

"In 2025, Jamaica's domestic crop sector produced 811,244 tons, representing a 5.7 per cent increase over 2024 and the second highest level of output on record," Green disclosed. "This performance is particularly significant when considered against the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which reduced the fourth quarter's output by 22.1 per cent." He added: "In other words, a year after Hurricane Beryl, our agricultural sector had rebounded so strongly that even with the impact of Melissa we hit our second highest production numbers ever. This is a testament to the hard work and resilience of our farmers but also to the fact that this Government has been building a more resilient agricultural sector through strategic investments over the last 10 years."

Green said Hurricane Melissa ranks as the most destructive weather event ever recorded for Jamaica's farming sector, with direct agricultural damage put at J$36.12 billion. The World Bank later placed the wider impact on the sector, including multiplier effects, at more than J$60 billion.

Production nevertheless recovered quickly, the minister said, backed by financial and other assistance to farmers.

According to Green: "Within a week we were able to restore 75 per cent of our irrigation customers through backup power generation, and over 90 per cent within a month providing water to our customers for four months free of cost, an investment of approximately $30 million ;providing free land preparation through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and Agro Investment, preparing 2,300 hectares at a value of J$80 million; providing direct support to specific crop lines including seeds, fertiliser, chemicals: $150 million for fruits and vegetables; $120 million towards traditional crops such as coffee, cocoa and spices; $100 million for banana and plantain; $100 million was provided towards yam recovery; $50 million for other crops such as sweet potatoes, dasheen, papaya and cassava; $40 million for hot peppers; $39 million for apiculture, providing 5,590 bags of bee sugar and transportation support."

A further $150 million went to livestock, covering broilers, pigs and small ruminants. Another $150 million supported protected agriculture for rehabilitating and building more than 500,000 square feet of production and nursery houses, now being rolled out, and $150 million funded tools and equipment under the ministry's recovery programme.

After thousands of fruit trees were destroyed, the Government has stepped up the National Fruit Tree Crop Programme, aiming to plant 3,000 acres of orchard crops by 2035, chiefly ackee, breadfruit, mango, coconut and avocado.

On Grow Forward and protected farming, Green described what he called the largest investment in greenhouse infrastructure in the country's history.

"Madam Speaker, as we grow forward in building resilience, protected agriculture is a fundamental part of our strategy. Today I inform the nation that we are embarking on the largest outlay of protected agriculture structures in our history. This Government is spending over 800 million dollars, constructing 95 greenhouses across four parishes before the end of this calendar year: Mocho, Clarendon – 40 greenhouses; Lancaster in South Manchester – 10 greenhouses; Water Valley, St Ann – 20 greenhouses; Damhead in St Catherine – 10 greenhouses; Black Stone Edge St Ann – 15 greenhouses."