Communities in Litchfield, Trelawny, are rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa caused widespread damage to crops, livestock and household livelihoods across the parish.

For chicken farmer Jacqueline McLean, the hurricane disrupted months of planning and investment. Just one week after purchasing more than 100 chicks, the storm destroyed her chicken coop and wiped out her stock.

“Seeing the damage was difficult, especially knowing how much work had gone into it,” McLean said. “But this is part of farming. You learn how to recover and keep moving.”

Support arrived through the Building a Better Jamaica Fund 2.0, a recovery initiative administered islandwide by N.C.B. Foundation, which delivered targeted assistance to farmers affected by the hurricane. McLean was among 30 female farmers who received vouchers for baby chicks and feed, enabling them to restart poultry operations damaged during the storm.

She said N.C.B. Foundation was the first organisation to engage farmers in the area.

“They came in early and focused on helping us get back on our feet,” she said. “That kind of response helps farmers get back to work and continue producing.”

In Litchfield and surrounding communities, the Foundation also provided fertiliser to 100 yam farmers to support crop recovery and stabilise food production. Broader recovery efforts included health check-ups for 60 farmers and on-the-ground support with banking services. Fifty care packages were also distributed to residents in the Wait a Bit area and neighbouring communities.

Deputy Chairman of N.C.B. Foundation, Andrew Pairman, said the response reflects the intent of the Building a Better Jamaica Fund 2.0, which prioritises timely, practical support following national emergencies.

“When communities are impacted at this scale, quick and practical action is essential,” Pairman said. “Our focus after Hurricane Melissa was to support farmers with inputs, health services and access to financial tools that help them recover and continue contributing to their communities.”

Farmers across the area said the assistance was timely, noting that heavy rainfall and strong winds damaged fields, livestock facilities and infrastructure, disrupting production across the parish.

N.C.B. Foundation’s Building a Better Jamaica Fund was established to support national recovery efforts following natural disasters and other crises, with a focus on strengthening community resilience, food security and economic stability. The Litchfield intervention forms part of a wider programme being implemented across affected areas.