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JAM | Oct 27, 2024

The Agricultural Wardens Programme is an unapologetically bold step to end praedial larceny

/ Our Today

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Agriculture Minister Floyd Green inspects damaged tomato crops in St Elizabeth, during an assessment tour of southern Jamaica after the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 10, 2024. (Photo: Instagram @floydgreenja)

By Floyd Green

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries & Mining

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Jamaica’s economy, and yet, for too long, it has been marred by a problem that strikes at the heart of our nation’s food security: praedial larceny. 

The theft of agricultural produce and livestock has drained the sector of billions annually, threatening not only farmers’ livelihoods but also national food security and rural development. Recent estimates show that the sector suffered losses amounting to $14 billion in 2024.

In 2020, we embarked on an island-wide listening tour to hear directly from our farmers. Their message was clear: praedial larceny remains a significant barrier to the growth and sustainability of the sector. This set the wheels in motion, driving the creation of solutions that farmers desperately needed. The call for stronger measures was reiterated in our 2023 New F.A.C.E of Food Stakeholder Engagements, where farmers emphasized the importance of an Agricultural Wardens Programme. This initiative is not just government policy; it’s what the farmers have asked for.

REUTERS/Jim Vondruska

For decades, farmers have cried out for meaningful action to tackle this issue. The previous government made promises but can’t point to any real progress they have made. However, the current administration is changing that narrative. This government is not about empty words, we’re about action. By reforming the Agricultural Produce Act, enhancing our traceability system and putting more boots on the ground, we are taking decisive steps to bring praedial larceny under control.

In 2023, the government significantly raised the fines for praedial larceny-related offences from $250,000 to $3 million and increased jail time from a mere six months to up to three years. These stiffer penalties send a clear message that agricultural crime will no longer be tolerated. But penalties alone won’t solve the problem; a comprehensive, structural change is needed. To reiterate, our approach is threefold: strengthened traceability, enhanced penalties and more boots on the ground.  

The Agricultural Wardens: A Specialized Force

Minister Floyd Green addresses the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE) Engineers’ Week Conference & Expo at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. (Photo: Contributed)

The concept of agricultural wardens was first introduced under the Praedial Larceny Prevention Act in the 1980s, but it was never fully implemented.

Unlike previous attempts, this programme is designed to be more effective and sustainable. Agricultural Wardens will not just be any officers; they will be a specialized arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) dedicated to tackling agricultural crimes. Their focus is clear: combatting praedial larceny and ensuring that our farmers and fishers can reap the fruits of their labour. These wardens will be fully trained police officers but with a specific mandate to protect agricultural produce and livestock.

Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green (right) speaks to St Elizabeth greenhouse farmer, Vaughn Ebanks, about the damage to his facility in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Green led an assessment tour of farms in the parish on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo: JIS)

One hundred (100) Agricultural Wardens are set to be recruited by the end of 2024. These wardens, trained in areas like police procedures, firearm handling, defensive tactics, and agricultural practices, will be stationed in praedial larceny hotspots across the island. By the end of the programme’s three-year cycle, 300 wardens will be actively patrolling our farms and fishing beaches, offering an unprecedented level of protection. 

This programme represents a new chapter in the fight against agricultural theft. It’s not just about catching criminals, it’s about creating a deterrent that will make would-be thieves think twice before targeting farmers. It’s about building a stronger, more resilient agricultural sector without the threat of theft.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green (centre), examines agricultural produce on day one of Founders’ Weekend at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) on Friday, January 26, 2024. With the Minister are (from left) President of the Guild of Students, CASE, Ashli-Ann Graham, and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Orville Palmer. (Photo: JIS)

Since 2024, police have made 79 arrests related to praedial larceny, and 137 cases are now before the courts. The number of farm watch programs has also increased significantly, from 107 in 2023 to 149 this year, with more operations and sensitization sessions taking place across the country. These statistics show that progress is being made, but much more is needed.

The government’s focus on fisheries, another critical part of our food system, is equally commendable. In 2024 alone, nearly 6,000 operations were conducted on fishing beaches to prevent theft in that sector; a significant increase from 2023.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Floyd Green (left) and Member of Parliament for East Portland Ann Marie Vaz assess damages caused to a banana field in Portland. (Photo: Instagram @floygreenja)

By protecting our farmers and fishers and reducing economic losses, we are ensuring that agriculture and fisheries remain viable and profitable. More importantly, we are securing Jamaica’s future food security.

We are answering our farmers’ calls by taking action to tackle praedial larceny and improve the agricultural sector. With the Agricultural Wardens Programme, stronger enforcement, and better legislation, we are creating a safer environment for our farmers and fishers. 

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