Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Pearnel Charles Jr is calling for increased private sector investments in the industry.

Speaking during the Eat Jamaican Day Expo in Kingston on Friday (November 25), Charles urged more private sector players to partner with the industry by investing in the expansion of production in Jamaica.

He noted that efforts are being made to reach out to members of the diaspora and other stakeholders with a message that, “Jamaica is ready and ripe for investments”.

“We want to be internationally competitive. If we are going to be internationally competitive, it means that we must make the investment in the technology, the labour, the capacity and the security of agriculture and fisheries,” the minister outlined.

He also urged farmers to adopt a market-driven approach to ensure sales for their produce.

Charles gave the assurance that the ministry is taking steps to combat praedial larceny and protect the investments of farmers.

“Praedial larceny is the biggest, the worst, and the most disturbing challenge. We are not going to relent. As a government, we have a focus on ensuring that we work with the Ministry of National Security and the police, and we’re putting together a strategy that is being executed as we speak,” the minister said.

The Eat Jamaican Day Expo 2022 was held under the theme: ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart: Let’s Eat Jamaican’.

The annual event is an opportunity to actively promote locally produced food and help in providing farmers with a stable domestic market for their produce.