Gov’t Allocates $30m to Boost Agriculture, Coastal Resilience

The Government has allocated $30 million in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure to enhance the resilience of the agricultural sector and coastal areas.

The Estimates was tabled in the House of Representatives on February 12 by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams.

The ongoing project is being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the National Works Agency (NWA), and the Forestry Department.

The project aims to safeguard livelihoods and ensure food security in vulnerable communities by improving land and water management in the agricultural sector, reinforcing coastal protection, and building institutional capacity to better withstand climate change risks.

Up to December 2025, coastal works, including protective revetments and groynes, had been completed at five sites – Buff Bay Site 1; Annotto Bay Sites 3, 4, and 5; and Orange Bay Site 1.

In addition, a draft Parish Disaster Recovery Action Plan and National Recovery Framework were developed, while a boat ramp was constructed at Annotto Bay Site 3 and more than 30,000 seedlings were procured to support ecosystem restoration and reforestation.

The project also facilitated shelter management training across six parishes and completed natural resource management training in St. Mary and Portland.

Additionally, a climate change community disaster risk management plan was completed for Annotto Bay, while pelagic training and boat repairs were carried out in St. Mary and initial damage assessment training was conducted across six parishes.

Anticipated physical targets for the upcoming fiscal year include close out activities and the preparation of final reports.

The 2026/27 phase of the project will be funded by the Government of Jamaica.