100-Acre Ackee and Mango Orchard to Be Established at Ebony Park in Clarendon

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has announced the establishment of a 100-acre orchard, comprising 50 acres of ackees and 50 acres of mangoes, on lands at Ebony Park HEART/NSTA Trust in Clarendon.

This aligns with the Ministry’s food security strategy, which is key to growing the agricultural sector. Climate change, global warming and other challenges have made it imperative that Jamaica keeps abreast of the latest in technological advances in the industry.

Speaking at the national ceremony in observance of World Food Day, at Ebony Park in Clarendon, on October 16, State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Franklyn Witter, said plans for the orchard form part of the Administration’s New Face of Food Initiative.

“The Ministry will support this institution in establishing 100 acres of fruit trees, comprising 50 acres of ackees and 50 acres of mangoes. The demand for ackee worldwide is tremendous and we want to see Jamaica reach the point where we are able to satisfy international demand for that product,” Mr. Witter said.

Mr. Witter said all fields will be equipped with a comprehensive irrigation system to ensure optimum water and nutrient management and that inter-cropping of vegetables will be practised in all fields.

“The Ministry will provide, free of cost to the institution, all fruit trees, all seeds required, irrigation hoses and accessories, assistance with land preparation, technical advice and training,” he said.

Mr. Witter pointed out that youth involvement in agriculture cannot be overemphasised and must remain in sharp focus by any government that wants to achieve results in the sector, adding that 20 per cent of what the Ministry does involves the youth.

Meanwhile, the State Minister also informed that research centres have been relaunched islandwide to become Centres of Excellence that address areas such as research and development infrastructure, technology, commercialisation, industrial strengthening and capacity development within the agricultural sector.

“If we are to improve access to food and facilitate a better life and better future, we must recognise the development of our young people. Our educational institutions play a major role in achieving this and I commend Ebony Park for its role in shaping our young people to become exceptional agriculturalists, agro-processors, extension officers and more,” Mr. Witter said.

Also addressing the ceremony on behalf of Alexis Bonte, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative for Jamaica, The Bahamas and Belize was Danalyn Swaby.

She said the theme, ‘Right to Food for a Better Life and Future – Leave no one Behind’, was a call to action challenging everyone to reimagine food systems worldwide, where everyone can enjoy the basic human right to healthy, diverse foods that sustain both body and community.

“This is a vision that the FAO is committed to achieving and actively pursue in partnership with the Ministry. Their leadership and collaboration are instrumental in advancing our shared goal of food security and sustainable development,” she added.

Ms. Swaby noted that the FAO’s role in Jamaica spans key areas of collaboration, such as enhancing market access, building resilient rural livelihoods, and safeguarding the sustainability of livestock, land use and more, geared at creating stronger, more inclusive systems that benefit all Jamaicans.

For her part, Lisa Hope Shirley, who read a message from the Custos of Clarendon, Hon. Edith Chin, said that while the world’s farmers produce enough food to feed the global population, some 783 million people still face hunger daily, even when some of them come from agricultural households caught in a cycle of inequality, economic downturn and climate crises.

“These challenges reflect a widening gap both within and across nations and it is up to us to take bold steps in closing those gaps. This year’s theme underscores the importance of diversity, not just in our communities but in our fields, fishing nets and in our markets. We need to make sure that safe, nutritious and affordable foods are accessible to everyone,” the Custos’ message read.

At the ceremony, a group of Clarendon greenhouse farmers from Prolific Greenhouse Farm, who lost everything during Hurricane Beryl, were presented with supplies and irrigation material to help them produce crops in time for the Christmas season.