Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw, and Regional Manager of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Jody-Ann Crossdale, views local produce on display at the National Eat Jamaican Day Ceremony on Thursday, November 25, 2021, held on the lawns of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has reiterated its commitment to boosting the local production capacity of farmers through initiatives such as the Production Incentive Programme and leasing of idle agricultural lands.

These initiatives were highlighted by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw, at the National Eat Jamaican Day Ceremony, held on the 25th of November.

Shaw declared that approximately $1.02 billion has been allocated towards the Production Incentive Programme, being implemented by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.  The programme aims to increase and sustain agricultural production to meet market demand, the import-substitution agenda and also to protect the livelihood of rural farm families.

“Our goal is to maximize production of nine crops, namely Irish potato, onion, yams, dasheen, hot peppers, pineapples, strawberry, vegetables and cassava, to meet the demands in both our local and export markets,” said Shaw.

The utilization of idle arable agriculture lands through leasing to local farmers is another major initiative of the Ministry. This is being done through right-sizing of the sugar industry lands to farmers for crop expansion and diversification.

“Over the last 3½ years (April 2018 to November 2021), SCJ Holdings Limited has approved some 347 leases covering approximately 19,899 hectares (49,172.24 acres),” mentioned Shaw.  

Twenty per cent of these lands will be made accessible to young people on preferential terms to pursue their agricultural dreams.

Minister Shaw also indicated that 551 of the targeted 1,055 banana and plantain farmers impacted by Tropical Strom Grace in August have been provided with fertilizer through The Banana Board.

Additionally, some $63.675 million has been allocated for management of the Frosty Pod Rot disease for the 2021/2022 financial year through the Ministry’s Plant Quarantine Produce Inspection Branch.

“I am pleased to note that the prevalence of the disease following the implementation of the management practices is now at 2.9%, coming from fields that were 100% infected. In other words, only 29 out every 1,000 pods are showing symptoms of the disease,” Shaw said.

Shaw commended the Jamaica Agricultural society (JAS) for spearheading the Eat Jamaican Campaign, which marked 18 years. The campaign is aimed at increasing consumption of local foods, reducing the food import bill and spurring food security under the ‘Grow What We Eat…Eat What We Grow’ slogan.

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