Floyd Green unveils crop insurance, greenhouse expansion in agriculture sector plan

Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister Floyd Green used his sectoral presentation in Parliament to set out plans to strengthen Jamaica’s crop sector, widen support for farmers, and pursue more sustainable growth in the face of global and climate pressures.

Green said the administration is committed to making agriculture more competitive and resilient, with emphasis on higher productivity, small farmers, youth participation, and export opportunities. He told the House that resilience must be built into how the sector operates, not only through planning for climate change and global insecurity but through action that delivers real change.

“It’s about ensuring systems of resilience and adaptation are ingrained in the ecosystem of our sectors,” he said. He stressed that young people in communities such as Bog Hole, Annotto Bay, New Combe Valley and Pennants must be able to see a future in agriculture, fisheries and mining.

Green argued that if production systems can better feed the country through rain, drought or conflict, and if Jamaica capitalizes on the blue economy and develops mining industries, rural communities and the nation as a whole would benefit.

He said extreme weather is now part of daily life for farmers. To help them recover faster and become more bankable, the Government will provide J$50 million to insure crops for 5,000 farmers, with priority given to agro-park operators, youth and women. He also said 30 scholarships would be offered this year.

The minister outlined wider support through modern technology, improved infrastructure and financial incentives, alongside drought-resistant crops and sustainable practices. He announced an J$800 million programme to construct 95 greenhouses across four parishes before the end of the year, calling it the largest investment in protected agriculture structures in the country’s history. In Content, Manchester, officials plan to turn a greenhouse cluster into a protected agricultural zone with storage and a new farm road.

Under the Green Climate Fund Adapt Jamaica project, the ministry will design greenhouses able to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, with more than J$1.5 billion to be spent over five years to roll them out nationwide.

Green said the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s incubators will be revamped and more farmers’ markets opened to tackle gluts and connect producers with consumers. Small agro-processors would get better-equipped spaces for recipe development and small-scale production, with the RADA Agromart used as a retail outlet. The RADA Home Economics Unit will engage fast-food companies and processors on recipes using local produce, while the Ministry of Education will help develop products from surplus crops for distribution. Additional market sites are planned for Negril, St. James, Portland and Portmore.

He called for closer collaboration between Government and the private sector to drive innovation and growth in the sector.