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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon J.C. Hutchinson, is urging farmers to plant more red peas.
While noting the drastic reduction in production since 1999, where production moved from 1,669 tonnes to 506 tonnes in 2008, Minister Hutchinson pointed out that import of red peas had increased by 395 tonnes in 2018, moving from 7,427 tonnes in 2017 to 7,642 in 2018.
“This importation is unsustainable. Much of that imported red peas could be grown in Jamaica, but we have to remain consistent in our production,” said...

Hon J.C. Hutchinson (right), Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Damion Young, CEO, Home Grown Produce, discuss red peas grown locally at the launch of Home Grown Produce’s red peas project on November 1, 2019 in Spalding, Clarendon. The project is aimed at increasing the production of red peas in Jamaica.

From right, Alfred Tenn, farmer, Damion Young, CEO, Home Grown Produce, and Mellody Garwood, Coordinator, Top Burnt Ground Women Farmers Group, sign contract for production of red peas at the launch of the Home Grown Produce Red Peas Project on November 1, 2019 in Spalding, Clarendon. The project is aimed at increasing the production of red peas in Jamaica. Witnessing the proceedings are (from left) Alexi Reid, Chief Agronomist, and Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, Minister without Portfolio, both at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.