20,000 Coffee Seedlings Distributed to Farmers Since January

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has distributed approximately 20,000 coffee seedlings to farmers as part of its coffee restoration and expansion programme.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, gave the update while addressing the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Farmers’ Trade Day held at the University of Technology’s Sangster Auditorium in Kingston on Friday (February 28).

He said the seedlings will help to replenish the existing stock of coffee plants, some of which are no longer producing high yields.

“Some of the plants have been around for a very long time and the truth is, as the plants go on, they lose their productivity. So, we are distributing new plants to replace those plants. We have already distributed close to 20,000 seedlings and we are going to continue that,” the Minister indicated.

He noted that in addition to the seedlings, farmers will also receive input support such as fertiliser and chemicals.

“I also know, farmers, one of the challenges you have is the cost of inputs… the cost of fertiliser… the cost of chemicals… and we are going to be working this year to not only bring down the cost but to provide you with more direct support. And I’m saying to the farmers, ensure that your groups are active and strong, because I want to come directly to you,” the Minister said.

He acknowledged that another challenge faced by coffee farmers is access to their farms, indicating that work is already under way to address that issue.

“We know that the roads have been in a really bad condition for a very long time, and last year I said that we would do more in relation to our coffee roads. I’m pleased to indicate that coming from last year, we had earmarked $100 million to work on roads in our coffee belt,” the Minister said.

He informed that work is under way on four of eight roads that were identified as needing critical repairs.

These are Hall’s Delight, Clydesdale, Mahoe to Spring Hill and Mount Prospect to Mount Horeb in the Blue Mountain coffee region.

The Minister added that an additional $100 million will be set aside in the upcoming fiscal year (2025/26) for work on roadways in the coffee belt.

“So, if you have roads in your area that are in need of significant repair, please talk to the JACRA (Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority) team. Let us get some work done on it this year,” he said.