The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has announced plans to spend $870 million on rehabilitating farm roads across Jamaica under its National Farm Road Rehabilitation Programme in the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26, which begins on April 1.

For the current financial year, 38 out of the 46 planned farm roads have been completed under the programme, which is implemented by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). The ministry should complete the remaining farm roads by the end of FY2025/26.

On Friday, February 21, portfolio minister Floyd Green opened three farm roads in St Elizabeth – Big Ground (Newcombe Valley) Farm Road, Giddy Hall to Mount Charles Farm Road, and Numbers Farm Road.

Speaking during the road opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony in Giddy Hall on the same day, Green said the ministry will place special emphasis on farm roads in that parish.

“St Elizabeth is responsible for more than 30 per cent of production. When you look at the numbers, the parish has over 39,000 registered farmers, over 1,500 hectares of land under domestic food production, and 45 acres of land under greenhouse production,” he noted.

Over the last two financial years, the agriculture ministry has rehabilitated over 22 farm roads, spanning 12.9 kilometres in St Elizabeth.

Farmers are not the only beneficiaries of the roads repaired under the National Farm Road Rehabilitation Programme, since the wider community experiences seamless and safe commute as a result.