Project to Increase Export Earnings from Hot Pepper Near Completion

• Increased export earnings from hot pepper are among the projected outcomes from the soon-to-be concluded ‘Improving Phytosanitary, Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along the Hot Pepper Value Chain in Jamaica’ project. The project aims to support increased compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards for the production and export of Jamaica’s hot pepper to the European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), Canada and Regional markets.
• The project, which commenced in May 2022, is scheduled to be completed on July 31, 2025, and is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government through the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining.
• Parishes involved in the project are Clarendon, St. Ann, St. Mary, St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine. The project identified key resource gaps through a sector-wide assessment and is addressing these with targeted support to strengthen pest monitoring and plant health systems.
• Work is under way to improve the technical and resource capacity of local producers, enhance inspection and regulatory bodies involved in sanitary and phytosanitary management and extension delivery to increase the capacity of stakeholders to adopt standards along the hot pepper value chain, increase the production of hot peppers and increase the export potential and market access opportunities for the sector.
• Overall, the project seeks to advance Jamaica’s hot pepper industry through achieving competitive, consistent, high-quality supply of fresh and processed products; meeting food safety and export requirements; sustainably meeting the increase in demand; increasing domestic and international sales; and enhancing the technical and resource capacity of local producers, inspection and regulatory bodies.

(Source: JIS)