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Approximately 100 agricultural stakeholders gathered on Thursday, May 21, at the ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston for the consultation during the National Agricultural Development Plan (NADP) Validation Workshop.

The workshop — hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) — allowed representatives from government agencies, farmer and fisher organisations, academia, private sector entities, development partners and technical experts to provide key recommendations and technical inputs for Jamaica’s proposed 10-year strategy to modernise and strengthen the agriculture and fisheries sector. Together they reviewed the draft plan to strengthen it before its finalisation.

The event also marked the inaugural visit to Jamaica by FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean René Orellana Halkyer, who delivered the keynote address. FAO has been providing technical support to the ministry in the development of the 10-year plan.

The FAO repesentative described the workshop as “far more than a policy exercise” and emphasised the importance of forward planning as Jamaica navigates increasing climate and global economic challenges.

He also reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Jamaica through the upcoming Country Programming Framework 2027–2031, which will support deeper cooperation in areas including climate resilience, fisheries modernisation, digital agriculture, food security, innovation and rural development.

“FAO remains strongly committed to supporting Jamaica not only through technical assistance, but also through resource mobilisation, strategic partnerships, and greater collaboration to unlock investments that can strengthen long-term resilience and sustainability within the sector,” Orellana stated.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green underscored the importance of the initiative to Jamaica’s long-term agricultural transformation agenda.

“This 10-year NADP will act as a gamechanger for us, serving as a roadmap and blueprint that will transform our agrifood system into one that is resilient, competitive, inclusive, and sustainable,” Minister Green said.

He explained that the strategy covers the full spectrum of the sector, from primary production and post-harvest systems to agro-processing, trade and export development, research and innovation, entrepreneurship, finance, and institutional strengthening.

Minister Green said the initiative was developed in response to mounting pressures on the sector, including climate change, technological disruption, shifting trade patterns, geopolitical uncertainty, high import dependence, and rising production costs.

He also thanked FAO for its partnership and technical support in the development of the plan, noting that Jamaica was not undertaking the process alone.

Throughout the workshop, stakeholders reviewed priority areas within the draft plan, including climate resilient technologies, agricultural trade and marketing systems, agro-processing and entrepreneurship, food security and nutrition, blue production systems, and research and innovation.

Participants provided recommendations aimed at strengthening implementation strategies, improving market coordination, and increasing export competitiveness. Key recommendations included stronger production planning systems to reduce agricultural gluts, expanded market-driven and contractual production arrangements, increased investment in agro-processing and export development, and financing mechanisms better tailored to agricultural risks and business expansion.

Additional recommendations highlighted the need for improved storage and logistics systems, stronger agricultural workforce development, enhanced market access for small farmers, and greater collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.

The draft National Agricultural Development Plan remains publicly available for review on the Ministry of Agriculture’s website, and stakeholders are being encouraged to continue submitting feedback as part of the consultation process.

The next phase of the process will involve incorporating comments and publicly solicited feedback into the draft document before it undergoes further review by heads of agencies within the ministry. Following final revisions, the National Agricultural Development Plan is expected to be completed by September 2026.