Scores of coffee and cocoa farmers, processors and exporters gathered at Emancipation Park in St. Andrew on Wednesday (October 1) for the joint celebration of International Coffee Day and National Cocoa Day.

They were joined by passersby, drawn in by the sweet aroma of coffee wafting from the venue, for a ceremony held to honour the significant achievements and highlight the collaborative effort required to address the pressing challenges facing the coffee and cocoa sectors.

Franklin Witter, state minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasised that coffee and cocoa are more than agricultural commodities – they are integral to Jamaica’s cultural identity.

He fondly recalled childhood mornings when his mother ensured he had a cup of coffee before heading off to school, an experience cherished by many Jamaicans.

The state minister also praised the exceptional quality of Jamaica’s world-renowned coffee and the distinctive richness of its cocoa – products that continue to command attention in key segments of the global market.

“The quality of our Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee and our Jamaica High Mountain Coffee has allowed us to secure our space in the global marketplace. Whenever one thinks of Jamaica, beyond sports, music and tourism, they think about coffee. In the same way, cocoa has held a place of pride in our culture and our economy,” Witter said.

He noted that while Jamaica’s coffee and cocoa products hold strong potential for further global expansion, the sectors continue to grapple with serious challenges, including climate change and crop diseases such as coffee leaf rust and frosty pod rot, the latter posing a critical threat to cocoa production.

Additionally, Witter informed that, “many of our farmers still struggle with access to affordable inputs, while long-standing issues, such as land tenure, limit investment in long-term farming. On the global stage, buyers are demanding higher levels of traceability, certification, and quality assurance”.

He noted, however, that the ministry, through key agencies like the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), is actively implementing measures to protect, restore and expand the coffee and cocoa industries.

The state minister informed that J$35 million has been invested to support 4,000 farmers in the Blue Mountains with clean planting materials, fertilisers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and plant stimulants.

He added that efforts to manage frosty pod rot in the cocoa industry are also ongoing, as strategies such as pruning, fungicide treatments and farmer training are being implemented.

“We also focus on crop restoration and expansion, which will see the planting of approximately two million new coffee plants and nearly 1.5 million grafted cocoa trees. This will help to restore ageing farms, replace diseased trees, and expand cultivation in new areas,” Witter said.

He also pledged to expand crop development programmes using disease-resistant and climate-resilient varieties, while strengthening extension services to ensure that every farmer has access to best practices in cultivation and post-harvest handling.

Additionally, Witter said the ministry is undertaking efforts to improve agricultural infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of farm roads, the upgrading of warehouses, and the enhancement of other essential facilities.

He further pledged continued support through the provision of fertilisers and essential equipment to maximise coffee and cocoa production, alongside the promotion of value-added products.

“We want to continue to safeguard our international trademarks and ensure strict traceability… and encourage our young people to see opportunities in these industries, whether through farming, processing, branding, or entrepreneurship,” Witter stated.

JACRA acting director general, Wayne Hunter, welcomed the ministry’s initiatives, and was quick to highlight the farmers.

He noted that their hard work remains the essential catalyst behind the high-quality Jamaican coffee and cocoa products recognised and respected worldwide.

Wednesday’s event, hosted by JACRA, invited stakeholders to sample a variety of Jamaican coffee and cocoa blends while gaining insight into the processes involved in cultivating and preparing these crops.