IICA Launches ‘Next Generation Sweet Potato Production in the Caribbean’ Project

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has launched a project designed to provide local and regional farmers with clean sweet potato planting material for improved production.

The ‘Next Generation Sweet Potato Production in the Caribbean’ Project was launched during a ceremony at the Alhambra Inn in Kingston on Wednesday (February 26).

This initiative is being implemented over four years, in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture in Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Lucia, and the Caribbean Agriculture Research Development Institute (CARDI).

It is being funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at a cost of US$596,000.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, who delivered the main address during the launch, welcomed the project’s implementation in the Caribbean, emphasising its importance in improving the region’s sweet potato production through better seed quality, pest management and environmental resilience.

He noted that sweet potato is a national staple across the Caribbean, largely due to its versatility.

“All our regional governments have recognised that sweet potato is critical as a part of our food security matrix. As such, a number of us have highlighted that sweet potato and its increased cultivation is essential for import substitution to address domestic consumption needs, looking at sweet potato as a substitute for things like wheat flour, which we spend a lot of resources importing, and also looking at sweet potato as a substitute in animal feed so that we can truly drive food security in the region,” Minister Green said.

He informed that sweet potatoes grown locally and in the region are in high demand globally, pointing out that in 2024, approximately 995,000 kilogrammes of the product were exported from Jamaica to markets in Canada, Tortola, France, Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom (UK), earning US$3 million.

Mr. Green pointed out that Canada accounted for about 50 per cent of Jamaica’s sweet potato exports between 2020 and 2024, while noting that over the last two years, the UK’s demand has increased.

The Minister maintained, however, that Jamaica and the region could do much more.

“We can do 10 times this easily, based on the demand, especially what we’re seeing out of the United Kingdom and out of Canada. So it’s very clear that sweet potato can be a very lucrative crop to invest in. In fact, it is a resilient crop, outperforming others in challenging weather conditions such as excessive rainfall and drought, and the cost to produce can be kept very low in comparison to other tubers. So it’s a great crop for investors, especially our young people looking to get involved in agriculture,” Mr. Green said.

He highlighted prevailing challenges with planting material for the sweet potato which affects the quality and quantity of yields, and disclosed that the Agriculture Ministry has partnered with the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) to research the staple’s characterisation.

Mr. Green said the findings are expected to provide genetic composition and information on which varieties are best for drought tolerance and dealing with the sweet potato weevil.

IICA’s Representative in Jamaica, Kent Coipel, in his remarks, said the project is also about building resilience, sustainability, and economic opportunities for local and regional farmers.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Director of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Gregory Bailey, and St Lucia’s Director of Agricultural Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, Kemuel Jn Baptiste, also welcomed the project in their respective countries.

Mr. Bailey underscored the sweet potato’s nutritional benefits and its adaptability in the face of climate change along with the potential for economic diversification.

Mr. Baptiste joined Minister Green in highlighting the potential for the product’s export to regional and global markets.