Significant Investments in Agriculture Expected This Year

• The Government will be providing close to $1Bn to establish cold storage facilities to benefit farmers across the island this year. The investment is among initiatives to boost agricultural production, which were announced by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (PM Holness), during his 2025 New Year’s Day message on January 1.
• PM Holness informed that Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, has been tasked to develop a plan to increase production of the most consumed staples and proteins such as potato, red peas, onion, cabbage, carrot, tilapia and goats.
• PM Holness noted further that the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Programme, which will irrigate 1,400 acres of land between Clarendon and St. Catherine, will be commissioned into service this year. Additionally, he announced that ground will be broken for the Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme, which will provide irrigation for a further 6,000 acres of land.
• He noted that the project, which will be the largest irrigation programme in Jamaica’s history “will take water from the Black River to our most arable agricultural areas.” This should help to mitigate the effects of drought conditions on agricultural production, which have plagued the island periodically in recent years.
• The Government will also be supporting farmers with a programme of mechanisation and technology integration. “Growing and building resilience in the agricultural sector is an important strategy for our food security and limiting the impact of food inflation,” PM Holness said.
• Overall, these agricultural investments could help save foreign currency by replacing imports with competitive local products, particularly as we enter a period likely to be characterised by increased protectionism, which could reduce export earnings.

(Sources: JIS & NCBCM Research)