In the wake of Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Rafael, Jamaica has successfully rehabilitated over 2,819 hectares of agricultural land. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, saw an investment of approximately $182 million in the procurement of 27,579 units of assorted seeds. These were distributed among farmers in several parishes including Manchester, Clarendon, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny, St Catherine, and St Ann, focusing on key crops such as cabbage, lettuce, sweet pepper, watermelon, and tomato.
Specifically, the restoration efforts included 20 hectares of yam, eight hectares of cassava, 12 hectares of papaya, and 16.5 hectares of hot pepper, with an investment of $21 million in some of these crops. Additionally, over 360 units of pesticides were distributed to support these efforts. The ministry also facilitated the distribution of 57,600 broiler chickens, 5,775 broiler rations, medications, and 50,000 pullets for egg production. To aid in the rebuilding of livestock facilities, $26 million was allocated for critical materials such as lumber, zinc, mesh wire, and nails.
As of December 16, more than 24,860 farmers have directly benefited from the recovery program, receiving seeds, fertilizers, and technical support to rebuild their farms and livelihoods. The efforts were augmented by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), Banana Board, and National Fisheries Authority (NFA), extending the total beneficiaries to over 30,000 farmers and fishers. This comprehensive recovery initiative underscores the collaborative effort to restore Jamaica's agricultural sector following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Rafael.
Source: The Gleaner