Jamaica Announces Multi-Million Dollar Program To Boost Food Production

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 14, 2020 (CMC) – The Ministry of Agriculture says that it will be spending J$100-million on a program, aimed at mitigating the impact of drought on farmers, and to gain at least a five percent growth in food production.

The announcement was made, recently, by Agriculture Minister, Audley Shaw, during the virtual launch of Farmer’s Month.

He said the program, which will be carried out over a 12-month period, will target the planting of vegetables, fruits, condiments, roots and tubers, as well as the rearing of small ruminants.

“The program will be implemented in critical parishes, island-wide, targeting in excess of 13,000 farmers, as the ministry looks to stimulate growth. We have every intention of ramping up production in all areas of agriculture,” the Agriculture Minister revealed.

He also outlined agricultural initiatives, being put in place, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Shaw, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has begun the island-wide distribution of agricultural inputs, under the J$240-million stimulus program, aimed at purchasing excess produce from farmers.

He said that focus is now being placed on: ramping up production and productivity; providing irrigation and other critical infrastructure; incorporating climate-smart approaches; and instituting comprehensive marketing and distribution programs, as well as “an invigorated agro-processing program”.