Jamaica advances food security plan with farming recovery, irrigation and youth agriculture measures

Jamaica’s agriculture sector is being positioned for a broad overhaul as the Government moves to raise local food output, strengthen farming against drought and hurricanes, and cushion the country from higher international food costs.

Central to the programme is a 10-year national agricultural development plan prepared with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization. The plan covers resilient production, sustainable farming systems, agribusiness and value chains, agricultural trade, nutrition and food security, while also addressing research, technology, labour, youth, gender and trade liberalisation. The Ministry of Agriculture is expected to hold further consultations with farmer organisations, private sector interests, the Jamaica Agricultural Society and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.

The sector is still recovering from Hurricane Melissa, which caused more than $36 billion in damage to agriculture. The second phase of the recovery programme will target livestock, yam and coffee farmers, while a voucher system is to assist farmers still awaiting help. Government has allocated $250 million for that support.

To encourage more local production, 5,000 backyard gardening kits and aeroponic towers are to be distributed this year to residents in urban communities. The fruit tree programme is also being expanded after widespread orchard losses from the hurricane, with a target of 3,000 acres planted by 2035 in crops including ackee, breadfruit, mango, avocado and coconut.

A national livestock policy is being finalised to modernise breeding, animal health services, local feed production and climate-smart livestock practices. Officials expect the policy to reach green paper stage by the end of the second quarter of the financial year. The Jamaica Dairy Development Board is also entering phase two of its genetic improvement programme, with 200 high-yield dairy animals to be imported from the United States this year and 400 already-purchased heifers being placed with farmers. Another 1,000 goats are also slated for importation.

Water security is being treated as a priority. RADA is to launch a $145 million mini water catchment pond programme in drought-hit farming areas, while two more water trucks are to be bought for the National Irrigation Commission. Farmers will also receive drip irrigation systems, tanks and mulch. Over five years, irrigation is expected to reach an additional 6,000 hectares.

Government also plans 95 greenhouses across Clarendon, Manchester, St. Ann and St. Catherine at a cost of $800 million, with another $1.5 billion under the Green Climate Fund’s Adapt Jamaica Project for structures designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes.

Other measures include an organic agriculture policy, a national youth in agriculture policy, scholarships for the top boy and girl in agricultural science in each parish to attend CASE, the first phase of the AI-supported National Agricultural Monitoring and Management System, a national agribusiness logistics map, digital constituency farm data for MPs, 60 farm road projects, $50 million in insurance coverage for 5,000 farmers, and new farmers markets in areas including Negril, St. James, Portland and Portmore.