Gov`t Ensuring Adequate Food Supply for Christmas
By: , October 1, 2026
Photo: Adrian Walker
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, addresses the opening ceremony of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), at the Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny on Sunday (September 27).The Full Story
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, is assuring Jamaica that measures are being undertaken to ensure adequate food supplies for Christmas at moderate prices.
Speaking with JIS News, portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, said that the Ministry is targeting a ramp-up of production in the areas that have reliable access to water.
“We are going to go in with a special programme to provide farmers in some areas with inputs and land preparation, especially as we target the Christmas period,” he said.
“We want to tell our consumers that we are taking a multifaceted approach to ensure that there is sufficient food. You may see prices start to moderate over the next month and we will keep that going into Christmas,” he said.
Minister Green, in acknowledging the challenges created by the current hot and dry conditions, said farmers are doing their best, and the Ministry has been working to support them.
“Most consumers appreciate that we are in the height of one of our most difficult drought periods and the Ministry has been working with the farmers, but as the drought prolongs, it gets more difficult, because farmers automatically, especially those who are rain-fed farmers, reduce their output,” he pointed out.
Earlier in September, the Ministry announced an additional $60 million for the trucking of water to farmers, to provide storage, drip irrigation support, and build catchment ponds.
A further $50 million has been allocated targeting water storage and drip-irrigation systems.
These sums are in addition to the $149-million drought mitigation strategy for the sector announced in June.
The Government is also expanding irrigation infrastructure with irrigation systems in Parnassus, Clarendon, providing water to 700 acres.
The recently commissioned Ebony Park Agro Park Irrigation Project will bring 100 acres of land under irrigation cover.
“Thankfully, we have expanded our irrigation networks. We are going to see Essex Valley come on stream by the end of this month,” Minister Green said.
