Young Farmer Thankful for GK Weather Protection Programme’s Hurricane Recovery Support
By: , November 19, 2025
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (third right, front row), shakes hands with the GraceKennedy (GK) Group's Head of General Insurance, Tammara Glaves-Hucey, during the symbolic handover of a $2.88 million insurance payout to 98 Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) farmers affected by Hurricane Melissa. The payout, made under the GraceKennedy Weather Protection Programme, is administered by GK General Insurance Company Limited. Also pictured (from left, back row) are Assistant General Manager for Client and Partner Services at GK General Insurance, Andrea Muir Gibbs; RADA Chief Executive Officer, Garnet Edmondson; and Client and Partner Services Manager at GK General Insurance, Orette Duncan, alongside several farmer beneficiaries. The ceremony was held recently at the Agriculture Ministry’s Hope Gardens headquarters in St. Andrew.The Full Story
Twenty‑four‑year‑old farmer, Tasheka Powell, has expressed gratitude for the GraceKennedy (GK) Weather Protection Programme, following receipt of a portion of a $2.88 million insurance payout to assist her recovery from catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.
She was among the group of farmers who received a symbolic cheque representing the total payout during a recent handover ceremony hosted at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining’s Hope Gardens office in St. Andrew.
The initiative, administered by GK General Insurance Company Limited, is structured to deliver swift, predetermined payouts triggered by weather events such as excess rainfall, drought, and hurricane‑force winds.
Ms. Powell, who cultivates yam, carrot, cabbage, and other crops in Litchfield, Trelawny, suffered catastrophic losses as her entire yam and carrot yields were wiped out just before harvest.
“My farm has got damage… crops… everything. All the yams have been blown down, the carrots have been blown off… they can’t be reaped… they’re spoiled. Everything is gone,” she told JIS News.
Raised in a farming community and coming from a family of farmers, Ms. Powell entered the profession seven years ago after leaving high school. Now 24, she is regarded as an experienced farmer, but the severity of Hurricane Melissa has left her with almost nothing.
Ms. Powell credits the GK Weather Protection Programme – a parametric microinsurance solution – with providing a vital lifeline to restart her farming operations.
The provision comes at a critical juncture, delivering immediate capital to safeguard Ms. Powell’s future in agriculture.
“This payout is going to help me… big, big time,” the young farmer declared emphatically.
When asked what prompted her to join the insurance scheme, Ms. Powell explained, “I attended Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) meetings where GK presented the insurance option, and I decided to join.”
She acknowledged that, in the past, she faced significant challenges in recovering from weather‑related setbacks.
With the insurance funds now secured, Ms. Powell has turned her focus to the future, confirming that preparations for replanting are already under way.
She encourages fellow farmers to consider the safety net offered through the GK Weather Protection Programme.
“Well, I would say to them that they should give it a try because, at the end of the day, it’s worth it,” Ms. Powell stated.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, who spoke during the ceremony, hailed the timeliness of the insurance scheme, noting that it will assist farmers, some of whom were still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Rafael in 2024, to accelerate their recovery and resume agricultural production.