Prime Minister Calls for Long-Term Supply Contracts for Farmers

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is advocating for the establishment of long-term supply contracts to give farmers greater certainty about markets and to encourage increased investments in agricultural production.

He said such arrangements, supported by government and the private sector, could help to change the perception of agriculture as a short-term undertaking and make the sector more attractive to investments.

Dr. Holness was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), at the Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny, on Sunday (September 27).

The six-day regional event, which concludes on October 2, is being held under the theme ‘The New FACE of Caribbean Food Systems’.

The Prime Minister argued that certainty about markets is critical to enabling farmers to make longer-term investments in their operations.

`“We tend to see agriculture as a short-term endeavour that is not bankable. If we’re going to have any radical change in our agriculture, the Government must be an instrumental partner alongside the private sector in the establishment of a system of long-term supply contracts where farmers can invest with the security of knowing there is a market for their products,” he outlined.

Dr. Holness said sustained transformation of Caribbean agriculture will require significant private-sector investment, noting that commercially viable agricultural projects must be developed to attract capital.

These investments, he said, should also facilitate stronger and more lasting relationships among producers, processors, distributors and retailers.

The Prime Minister welcomed opportunities being provided during CWA 2026 for investors to engage directly with agricultural enterprises, including the presentation of investment opportunities by the Agro-Investment Corporation.

“We must translate these opportunities into bankable projects and productive investments,” he urged.

Dr. Holness also pointed to significant opportunities to strengthen linkages between agriculture and tourism.

He noted that tourism throughout the Caribbean generates substantial demand for agricultural produce, seafood and processed products, providing an important potential market for regional producers.

Strengthening these commercial relationships, the Prime Minister said, could provide reliable markets for farmers, while encouraging improvements in the quality and consistency of agricultural output.

He emphasised that Governments have an important role in creating the conditions to attract investments into the sector, including providing enabling infrastructure, establishing an effective regulatory environment and supporting research and development.

The Prime Minister said the transformation of agriculture should ultimately create stronger businesses and more sustainable livelihoods throughout the region.