Prime Minister Says Greater Emphasis Must Be Placed on Productivity in Agricultural Sector

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says productivity must become the central organising principle of agricultural policy if the Caribbean is to improve the long-term competitiveness of the sector.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), at the Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny, on September 27, he said greater emphasis must be placed on increasing yields, improving efficiency and ensuring that farmers and agricultural enterprises are able to generate greater value from available resources.

“The long-term competitiveness of our agricultural sector will depend increasingly on productivity. We must produce higher yields per hectare, generate greater output per worker, use water and energy more efficiently, reduce post-harvest losses, and obtain better returns on agricultural investments,” he added.

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

The FACE agenda focuses on Food security, Agribusiness development, Climate-smart technologies and Export expansion.

The Prime Minister said increased agricultural productivity should translate into improved earnings for farmers, reliable supplies at competitive prices for consumers and stronger enterprises capable of competing in regional and international markets.

He emphasised that governments have an important role to play through strategic investments in irrigation, mechanisation, research, technology, agricultural extension services and infrastructure linking farms to markets.

Dr. Holness also called for improvements in the regulatory environment to facilitate agricultural investments, particularly those involving technology and controlled production systems.

“My protest is not that we must not regulate. My protest is that we must be speedier, faster, more strategic in how we regulate,” he underscored.

The Prime Minister said Jamaica is already pursuing strategic investments aimed at increasing agricultural efficiency, including expansion of irrigation infrastructure and improved water availability.

He pointed to investments in the country’s agro-parks and the Pedro Plains Irrigation Project, noting that reliable irrigation is critical to increasing yields, facilitating year-round production and reducing farmers’ exposure to unpredictable rainfall.

At the same time, Dr. Holness said modernisation of the sector must include greater use of digital technology, precision farming, improved crop varieties and more efficient production systems, with small and medium-sized farmers also having access to these innovations.

“We must find ways to get it into the hands of our artisanal farmers, for whom the technology may not be native, and we must get our young people, for whom technology is native, to apply it to agriculture,” the Prime Minister argued.

He further outlined that young people must increasingly be able to view farming, agro-processing and agricultural technology as viable and rewarding careers, supported by access to land, financing, modern equipment, technical training and reliable markets.

In the meantime, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, said the 20th staging of CWA must move the region beyond dialogue towards implementing practical solutions to long-standing agricultural challenges.

“We are now here, not just to begin a week of dialogue but to ensure that we convert dialogue into action,” he said.

Minister Green identified several priority areas for action, including the establishment of a regionally blended financing facility to unlock capital for farmers; increasing regional production of agricultural inputs; improving transportation and trade; and accelerating the adoption of climate-smart technologies.

“We will not deliver regional food security if we cannot move agricultural goods efficiently and affordably across the countries that produce them in this region,” he pointed out.

Mr. Green also argued that shipping, logistics and sanitary and phytosanitary requirements must be better aligned to facilitate the seamless movement of agricultural goods throughout the Caribbean.

He also highlighted the importance of strengthening resilience, noting that Hurricane Melissa caused approximately $39 billion in damage to Jamaica’s agricultural sector in 2025.

Minister Green said the subsequent recovery demonstrated the resilience of farmers and other stakeholders but also highlighted structural challenges that must be addressed as the region prepares for future climate shocks.

CWA 2026 brings together policymakers, farmers, fisherfolk, researchers, investors, private-sector interests and development partners to advance the transformation of agriculture and fisheries across the Caribbean.