Agriculture Minister Floyd Green has commended Jamaican farmers for helping restore domestic food production in the year since Hurricane Melissa, pointing to signs of recovery despite the storm’s devastating impact.
Addressing the launch of the 2026 National ‘Eat Jamaican’ Month at Devon House in Kingston on Wednesday, October 28, Green said farmers’ determination had helped the sector regain substantial production levels.
Domestic crop output reached approximately 190,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, approaching the level recorded in the corresponding period of 2024 and slightly exceeding the 2023 figure, the Minister reported.
Vegetable production rose by 12 per cent during the quarter, while Irish potato production increased by 18 per cent.
Green acknowledged that the hurricane’s effects continued to weigh on the sector. Second-quarter domestic production declined by 15 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier, although output still reached 197,000 tonnes.
He said those production levels, achieved following widespread destruction, demonstrated farmers’ ability to recover and the sector’s capacity to withstand major disruptions.
“There was a time in Jamaica where we would celebrate passing 190,000 tonnes of domestic production,” Green said.
The Minister also recognised the agencies and partners involved in supporting the recovery, including the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Agro-Invest Corporation, Rural Agricultural Development Authority and private-sector organisations.
He gave special recognition to Veterinary Services Division teams that delivered emergency field clinics across the island after the hurricane.
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