More Seedlings for Coffee Farmers

  • Coffee farmers are to benefit from the distribution of an additional 8,000 seedlings this January, says Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister, Hon. Floyd Green. The move, he said, is part of a broader coffee restoration and expansion programme, which includes support for short-term cash crops to provide farmers with immediate income while waiting for their coffee plants to mature.
  • The objective is to not only boost coffee production but to ensure that farmers can sustain their livelihood during challenging periods. The Minister highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing support to the industry, including allocation of J$100.0Mn to improve access to coffee farms by repairing eight key farm roads. “We have already started four of those roads,” he said, citing expenditure of $46 million, so far, on road works in Hall’s Delight in rural St. Andrew, among other areas.
  • In addition to infrastructure improvements, the Government has spearheaded recovery efforts through partnerships with the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA). “We have distributed 12,000 seedlings, over 300 bags of fertiliser and provided essential tools to help our farmers rebuild,” said Minister Green.
  • He noted that the Government’s commitment to supporting the coffee industry remains steadfast, with proactive measures paving the way for sustainable growth and resilience in one of Jamaica’s most iconic agricultural sectors.
  • “One of the things that people associate with Jamaica and with our greatness is our coffee,” said Minister Green. “Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee is among the highest priced coffee in the world, which is a testament to the 5,000 registered coffee farmers who work under very difficult conditions,” he pointed out. To further enhance quality assurance, upgrades to coffee warehouses have been implemented, including new metal shelving and numerical cupping assessments. This ensures that the premium quality of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is maintained for export markets.

(Source: JIS)