Agriculture Ministry Seeks Support to Establish Veterinary Field Hospital in Western Jamaica

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is seeking support to establish a veterinary field hospital in western Jamaica, ensuring farmers and pet owners have access to essential animal care.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, noted that the temporary hospital is especially necessary, as three of the four veterinary stations in western Jamaica were severely damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28.

He stated that the Ministry is reaching out to international partners to support the endeavour.

Minister Green was speaking during Wednesday’s (December 3) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, where he outlined the Ministry’s hurricane recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, the Veterinary Services Division (VSD) is hosting free veterinary clinics across several parishes.

“We’ve already done this in St. Elizabeth, St. James, and Westmoreland [and] we’re going to Clark’s Town in Trelawny next week. That allows our farmers and pet owners to be able to carry out their animals, receive treatment, medication, wound care, vaccines, and nutritional support,” Mr. Green announced.

He further informed that, since the hurricane’s passage, the VSD has partnered with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to conduct air reconnaissance missions in search of marooned animals, particularly in flood‑affected areas that were difficult to access.

Mr. Green pointed out that, from these visits, the Ministry facilitated the export of 58 dogs to the United States and Canada.

He expressed gratitude to local and international partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), VM Foundation, and the 4‑H Foundation, for their support of the Ministry’s hurricane recovery efforts.

“We’ve secured a US$70,000 partnership under the Jamaica Resilient Recovery Initiative… the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has paid US$30,000. We have a pledge from Newport-Fersan [Jamaica Limited] – which we should action next week – of $25 million worth of fertiliser,” Mr. Green said, in outlining the support received to date.

He also extended thanks to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, which intends to provide 1,000 pounds of tilapia feed to support fish farmers in St. Catherine and St. Ann.