Agriculture Minister Calls for Greater Collaboration with Engineers to Boost Food Security

• Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister Hon. Floyd Green is advocating for enhanced collaboration between the local engineering industry and the agricultural sector to bolster food security. His call emphasises the importance of developing machinery and equipment that can improve productivity and resilience in farming.
• Speaking at the Jamaica Institution of Engineers’ Engineers Week Conference on September 17^th, Minister Green highlighted the critical role engineers play in adapting agriculture to the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related weather events. He stated, “Agriculture and engineering go hand in hand,” and urged engineers to focus on transforming traditional agricultural practices into more efficient and productive processes.
• The Minister underscored engineers’ technical expertise as essential for designing and implementing the necessary infrastructure to address climate challenges. He cited the Essex Valley Irrigation Scheme, which aims to provide irrigated water to 1,200 hectares of arable land in south St. Elizabeth and south Manchester through the construction of wells and related infrastructure.
• Reflecting on the recent impacts of Hurricane Beryl, Minister Green pointed to the significant agricultural losses, which included 688,000 square feet of destroyed greenhouses affecting 224 farmers and resulting in an estimated cost of $856Mn. He emphasized the necessity of innovating greenhouse designs to withstand stronger storms, stating that these structures are crucial for maintaining food supply during adverse weather conditions.

 (Source: JIS)