Agricultural Sector Poised for A Major ‘Face’ Lift

Jamaica’s agricultural landscape is poised to be revolutionised under a new initiative being implemented by the Government, as part of moves to bolster the country’s food security.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining will lead the charge through the new Food Security, Agribusiness Development, Climate Change Technologies, and Export Expansion (FACE) of Food Initiative.

Flagship programmes under the engagement will focus on several crops, including yam, breadfruit, sweet potato, ackee and mango, as well as small ruminants and aquaculture.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, said through the strategic expansion and development of robust value chains, “we aim to, not only reduce food waste, but also empower farmers and fishers, providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to transform their practices in alignment with green and climate-resilient methodologies.”

He was speaking at a stakeholder engagement at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston on Friday (August 4).

Mr. Green informed that the Ministry will be undertaking a new priority programme incorporating yam, noting that it taps into two of the central pillars – Food Security and Export Expansion.

“Yam has secured its place as the nation’s top non-traditional export crop over the last few years, showing tremendous growth export volume and value. In 2022, yam’s total production went to 207,500 tonnes, signifying the country’s capacity to cultivate this staple crop on a substantial scale,” he stated.

The Minister further noted that out of this vast production, 14,500 tonnes were exclusively designated for export.

“This has ensured that we have key markets, such as the USA (United States of America), United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, that we are now supplying with yam from Jamaica,” Mr. Green informed.

Two prominent varieties, Yellow Yam and Sweet Yam, are central to this initiative, with focus on production areas in St. Ann, Clarendon, Trelawny (including Clarks Town and Jackson Town), Manchester, St. Thomas, and St. Elizabeth.

“The first thing that we want to do is identify our exporters, and we are going to see how we can work with them to formalise their supply arrangements with our farmers,” Mr. Green indicated.

The Ministry will also be implementing incentive programmes focusing on support for nutrition and crop care, as well as the provision of high-quality planting materials.

They will also employ trellising techniques on level terrains, such as Amity Hall, and introduce enhanced mini-sett cultivation methods and incorporate mechanised reaping practices.

Regarding sweet potato, Mr. Green informed that with a yearly production of approximately 60,000 tonnes and an export volume of 1,500 tonnes to key markets such as Canada, the UK, and the Cayman Islands, the tuber holds significant economic potential.

“Its marketability and versatile value-added product possibilities align seamlessly with the new FACE of Food’s goals of enhancing food security, promoting agribusiness, and expanding exports.

Within this framework, sweet potato emerges as a versatile contender that can be marketed, not just as a crop, but as a superfood,” he said.

In terms of targets, the Ministry aims to attain a production threshold of 75,000 tonnes, of which, the Government aspires to export 2,500 tonnes over the next three years.

Several distinctive sweet potato varieties, including Yellow Belly, Clarendon and Uplifter, have been identified as integral to the strategy. These are cultivated across key production regions like St. Mary, particularly New Pen; St. Ann, making use of mined out lands; Clarendon, focusing on Ebony Park Agro-Park; Trelawny, and St. Elizabeth.

“One of primary strategies revolves around the engagement of select farmers and nursery operators to have the production of clean slips [and] high quality planting material, so we can get the sort of yield that we need,” Mr. Green pointed out

“The second strategy will also look at strengthening the arrangements between farmers and exporters. We have to formalise those supply chains arrangements and we will provide specific incentives for those arrangements, which will be geared towards nutrition support/crop care,” he added.

The third strategy will involve direct outreach to private sector partners to drive value added production, focusing on items such as sweet potato flour, fries, and wedges. Land will also be made available for factory establishment and mother farm arrangements.

In relation to ackee, the Minister informed that the trees can potentially thrive across all parishes in Jamaica while noting, however, that organised orchard cultivation is primarily concentrated in St. Elizabeth and Clarendon.

Mr. Green said, presently, the number of orchards remains limited within the country and, therefore, strategic focus will be on establishing approximately 1,000 acres of ackee trees in the next three years, through a public-private partnership. In 2022, Jamaica’s ackee exports were valued US$25.2 million.

Production areas identified include St. Ann, Clarendon, Trelawny, Manchester, St. Thomas, and St. Elizabeth.

Mr. Green stated that the first strategy focuses on establishing orchards, which is going to be the backbone for cultivating new ackee production zones, enabling growth in quantity and quality.

Another strategy will place emphasis on rehabilitating existing orchards, and harnessing their potential for increased yield.

An incentivisation programme will also be directed towards vital practices, such as pruning, nutrition support, and comprehensive crop care, thereby ensuring a sustainable and thriving ackee production landscape.

Meanwhile, Mr. Green informed that in 2021, Jamaica exported 1,537,382.21 kilogrammes of fresh breadfruit, valued US$2.114 million.

“We are going to be looking to establish orchards across a number of regions such as Portland, St. Mary, St. Catherine, Hanover, St. Thomas, Westmoreland, and St. James. We have already identified specific locations in those parishes that are fertile grounds, for robust breadfruit production,” he said.

The second strategy revolves around rehabilitating existing breadfruit orchards, and ensuring that their potential is maximised. An incentivisation programme will be tailored to encourage critical practices like pruning, while also offering comprehensive nutrition support and crop care.

Meanwhile, under the FACE of Food Initiative, the Government will be making more lands available for investment in mango orchards.

“We want to put 1,000 acres of land under mango cultivation,” Mr. Green informed.

He advised that while the mainstays remain East Indian and St. Julian, there is also a discernible interest in the Common, Black, Haden, and Chin Graham varieties.

The Minister noted that the strategic focus has pinpointed several pivotal regions that will serve as the backbone of the mango cultivation efforts, namely St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine, St. Thomas, and Clarendon.

“What we are going to be doing is expanding our mango orchards,” Mr. Green said.

Focus will also be placed on prioritising knowledge transfer, particularly through orchard management training provided to farmers and exporters. To bolster optimal yield and quality, incentives will also be tailored towards nutrition support and comprehensive crop care.

Additionally, the Ministry’s Plant Quarantine team and extension services, through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), will redouble their efforts at managing the fruit fly challenge.

Regarding small ruminants, Mr. Green said Jamaica’s current scenario reveals a substantial reliance on imported meat, accounting for 60 to 70 percent of the country’s consumption, and a staggering 90 percent for dairy products.

“A juxtaposition emerges as less than 15 percent of registered Jamaican farmers are actively engaged in livestock production. This glaring gap not only signals a significant deficit in domestic supply, but also underscores the potential for strategic investments that can usher in a paradigm shift, enabling import substitution of meat and its derivatives,” he stated.

The Minister also noted that the investment opportunities within the livestock programme are poised to drive transformative change and sustainable growth. These opportunities, he said, include the importation of live animals, duty-free.

“As an incentive, this initiative aims to foster the inflow of live animals, reducing the cost of initial investment for farmers and paving the way for a more robust and self-reliant meat production landscape,” Mr. Green said.

“Recognising the foundational role of fodder in livestock cultivation, this approach prioritises the establishment of dedicated fodder production systems, facilitating sustained and cost-effective livestock nourishment,” he added.

Strategic regions such as St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine, St. Thomas, and Clarendon have been earmarked as vital production zones. These areas are primed to play a pivotal role in the local collective aim to invigorate domestic livestock production.

In the meantime, focus will also be placed on fisheries and aquaculture.

Mr. Green noted that within the realm of food production, the aquaculture industry emerges as a beacon of rapid growth, asserting itself as one of the fastest-expanding sectors.

“As our global population surges, conventional farming practices prove unsustainable, fisheries face overexploitation, and climate change looms, a paradigm shift is imperative. Aquaculture, as a transformative food production system, rises to the occasion, offering a solution to these multifaceted challenges,” he said.

The Minister pointed out that critical production areas have been identified in St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Westmoreland, and St. Mary.

“Those production zones will be the bedrock in the endeavour to [achieve] sustainable aquatic resources,” Mr. Green said.

There is also going to be the provision of fingerlings for one pond acre.

“By offering fingerlings, we not only encourage the cultivation of aquaculture, but also facilitate a seamless entry point for those venturing into this transformative sector,” the Minister added.

There will also be technical assistance and capacity building, and for those seeking investment avenues, an exciting prospect arises in the form of establishing a cage system.

Mr. Green stated that the National Fisheries Authority will collaboratively identify suitable locations for these systems.

“To ensure the success of these ventures, comprehensive technical assistance will be provided. This opportunity presents a unique moment for Public-Private Partnership Investment, with the potential for one investor to drive positive change in the aquaculture landscape,” he stated.