Gov’t Prioritising Post-Hurricane Livestock Recovery to Safeguard Jamaica’s Food Security

Restoring Jamaica’s livestock sector after the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa is being prioritised as a critical pillar for safeguarding food security and protecting livelihoods.

This was underscored by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, whose remarks were delivered by Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Orville Palmer, during the opening ceremony for the 34th Caribbean Veterinary Medical Association (CBVMA) Conference and the eighth staging of the Pan-Commonwealth Veterinary Conference (PCVC), held at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny on Wednesday (April 14).

The Minister underscored the magnitude of destruction inflicted on Jamaica by the hurricane.

“The passage of Category Five Hurricane Melissa in 2025 left Jamaica reeling from one of the most devastating agricultural disasters in our history. Over 1.25 million heads of livestock were lost, including poultry, small ruminants and cattle, and nearly 40 per cent of our egg-producing birds perished,” he said.

Mr. Green emphasised that the impact of the 2025 hurricane extended well beyond the agricultural sector.

“This was not just a blow to our farmers but to our nation’s food security and livelihoods,” he declared.

Mr. Green noted that the recovery effort was mobilised immediately, driven by the resilience of stakeholders and coordinated initiatives led by the Ministry.

“Public-private partnership played a central role in Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa. Through collaboration, we were able to bounce back better than we were before,” the Minister added.

Mr. Green underscored that the forum serves as a vital platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration, particularly at a time when countries are striving to strengthen food systems and enhance resilience.

He added that conferences of this nature are essential for advancing collaboration and driving innovation across the veterinary and agricultural sectors.

“As we build back stronger and move from resilience to resurgence, we must embrace local and international veterinary experience as critical pillars of food security, safe trade, and farmer livelihood,” Minister Green underscored.

The joint veterinary conference, which concludes on April 17, will centre on climate resilience, sustainable livestock transformation, strengthening animal health systems, and fostering regional cooperation.