Agriculture Ministry and IICA to collaborate on projects to advance Jamaica’s food security

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) have committed to collaborate on projects around the increased availability of clean seeds, soil fertility health and development and other projects to advance Jamaica’s food security.

Among the technical cooperation projects being proposed for the upcoming year by IICA under its ‘Innovation & the Bioeconomy Program’ are selected projects relating to IICA’s ‘International Trade and Regional Integration Program’ to include crops for export such as castor, pimento, ginger and turmeric.

“These projects align with our ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart’ strategy and provide an opportunity for accessing grant opportunities in collaboration with IICA for the expansion of our seed bank facility as well as the development of a seed programme and soil health and fertility” said Pearnel  Charles Jr, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

He was speaking at a meeting with IICA representatives held at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens’ offices in St. Andrew on July 6, 2022 where Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, IICA Representative for Jamaica, outlined several initiatives being undertaken by IICA in Jamaica. 

Dr. Johnson explained that under IICA’s new 2022-2026 Medium Term Plan, through the Innovation & Bioeconomy Program, which is one way of improving genetics for crops grown in Jamaica, the country can tap into funding for the provision of new varieties of seeds adaptable to the Jamaican environment, training of farmers and conservation for sustainable utilization of Jamaica’s native crop biodiversity.

Other initiatives currently under way in partnership with the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority include improving soil health in cocoa and coffee production systems with funding from the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Government of Jamaica under the Crop Restoration and Establishment Programme (CREP). IICA has also committed to supporting the ministry in developing appropriate composting strategies for agro-parks as part of the improved soil fertility component of the ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart’ strategy.