Jamaica Aims to Plant 3,000 Hectares of Fruit Trees by 2035

Hon. Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, has outlined plans for a nationwide drive to put 3,000 hectares of land under fruit tree cultivation before 2035.

Speaking at the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference on Tuesday (June 16) at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, the Minister said the programme will bolster household food supplies, shore up earnings in rural communities, and build stronger defences for farming after Hurricane Melissa tore through the sector last October.

Mr. Green pointed out that quick-harvest crops like vegetables have already bounced back, but restoring fruit production demands a patient, coordinated approach backed by sustained support. Breadfruit, avocado, and mango, he said, sit at the heart of Jamaica's longer-range strategy for secure food supplies and climate-ready agriculture, while giving growers dependable revenue over time.

Under the scheme, the Ministry will distribute planting stock at no charge and extend hands-on guidance covering where to plant, how to establish orchards, day-to-day crop care, and controls for pests and diseases. He called on landholding members of the diaspora to join the effort, framing participation as a concrete way to help rebuild the country.

"We have seen tremendous recovery, but we're not out of the woods yet," Mr. Green stated.

The Minister also described wider work to harden the sector against future disruptions. Upgrading and extending irrigation has been a priority, he said, with backup generators installed so water service can be brought back online swiftly after severe weather.

Significant funds are going into new and improved agro-parks, including at Parnassus in Clarendon, Essex Valley in St. Elizabeth, and Amity Hall in St. Catherine. Producers there gain access to linked road infrastructure, modern irrigation, and storage on the premises.