The Ministry of Agriculture unveiled on Friday (August 4), its strategy to fuel export expansion and improve food security under the New FACE of Food Initiative, which spotlights a range of diverse crops including yam, sweet potato, breadfruit, ackee, and mango, as key drivers of Jamaica’s agribusiness, food security and export expansion.

Currently, Jamaica spends over US$1 million on food imports every year, and some of the larger costs are in wheat and grains, many of the crops mentioned in the initiative can be used for import substitution with rice and other grains.

Speaking at the stakeholder engagement at the AC Hotels Marriott, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, Floyd Green, unveiled the details behind the initiative, stating,” We are aware of the challenges in the space globally and as such Jamaica must adapt, transform and evolve its own food system in order to ensure that we can feed ourselves, that entrepreneurs (farmers and fishers) are maximising their profits, that we’re using technology and that we’re ensuring that significant demand we’re seeing externally is being satisfied.”

FACE stands for Food Security, Agribusiness Development, Climate Change Technologies, and Export Expansion, and the initiative charts a comprehensive course to strengthen these agricultural sectors and their role in the local and global market by reducing food waste and empowering farmers and fishers by giving them the tools they need to transform their practices.

Green pointed out that the first flagship programme will be around Yam production. Prior, the ministry only focused on Irish potatoes and onions. Yam is Jamaica’s top non-traditional export crop; over the years it has grown in volume and value. In 2022, Jamaica produced approximately 207,500 tonnes of Yam, with 14,500 tonnes exported mainly to the USA, UK, and Canada.

The New FACE of Food Initiative targets the production of 250,000 tonnes of yellow and sweet yams and aims to export 25,000 tonnes (10 per cent). The Ministry plans to identify exporters for expansion, establish groups of farmers for direct production, and implement incentives for enhanced production techniques.

Another of the flagship programmes is centred around Sweet Potato production. Sweet Potato emerges as a nutritional powerhouse within the New FACE of Food Initiative. In 2022, Jamaica produced around 60,000 tonnes of Sweet Potato, with 1,500 tonnes exported to markets such as Canada, the UK, and the Cayman Islands. With its low glycemic content and versatility, Sweet Potato is poised to carve a niche as a healthy alternative to rice. The initiative seeks to increase production to 75,000 tonnes, including 2,500 tonnes for export. Incentives will drive nutrition support, crop care, and clean slips production among farmers and nursery operators.

Breadfruit, known for its ease of cultivation and adaptability holds promise as a solution to global hunger and is another of the flagship programmes of the New FACE of Food initiative. In 2021, Jamaica exported over 1.5 million kgs of fresh Breadfruit valued at US$2.114M. While 2022 saw a slight decline in exports, the local market absorbed the majority of fresh and agro-processed Breadfruit. Orchards in parishes like Portland, St. Mary, and St. Catherine are marked for expansion and rehabilitation. The initiative seeks to bolster these efforts with incentives focused on pruning, nutrition support, and crop care.

Ackee, the globally recognised Jamaican culinary icon with substantial export potential, earned export revenue of US$33,026 for fresh ackee and US$24.9 million for canned ackee in 2022. Ackee orchard expansion, especially in parishes like St Ann, Clarendon, and Trelawny, forms a cornerstone of the strategy. Incentives will be directed towards pruning, nutrition support, and crop care, ensuring sustained yields and quality.

The final crop programme is centred around expanding mango orchards and exports. The Mango Agro Park, launched in Toll Gate Clarendon in 2022, sets the stage for orchard-type agricultural development. With major markets in the US, Canada, and the UK, Mango varieties like East Indian and St Julian are in high demand. The initiative targets the establishment of 1,000 acres of Mango orchards, supported by incentives for pruning, nutrition, and crop care.

Green emphasised that the New FACE of Food Initiative signifies a paradigm shift in how Jamaicans engage in crop production and exports.