FAO, GOJ start process for 10-year agri development plan

Stakeholders from across government, development partners, academia and the agri-food sector convened on February 10-11 for a two-day visioning workshop aimed at shaping Jamaica’s 10-year National Agriculture Development Plan, a strategic response to growing climate risks and long-standing structural challenges facing the sector.

The workshop, held at the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, and was supported by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, provided a platform for stakeholders to collectively define a long-term vision for agriculture one focused on strengthening resilience, boosting productivity and safeguarding national food and nutrition security.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and its agencies, along with more than 25 organisations spanning government, the private sector, international development agencies and local producer organisations, reflecting broad-based engagement in shaping Jamaica’s long-term agricultural development priorities.

Recent extreme weather events, including hurricanes Beryl and Melissa, have underscored the sector’s exposure to climate shocks, with significant impacts on production, livelihoods and rural communities. Against this backdrop, the visioning exercise focused on moving beyond short-term recovery toward a coordinated, forward-looking development pathway for Jamaica’s agrifood system.

Delivering welcome remarks on behalf of FAO Representative Dr Ana Touza, at the opening of the workshop, Assistant FAO Representative-Programme Roslyn Jackson-Richards, emphasised the importance of long-term planning in the context of climate change.

“This process is about more than recovery. It is about repositioning agriculture as a resilient, competitive and inclusive pillar of Jamaica’s development, one that can withstand climate extremes while delivering improved livelihoods, nutrition and economic opportunity. A strong national agricultural development plan provides that strategic anchor, aligning policy, investment and action around shared priorities.”

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Chief Technical Director Michelle Parkins emphasised the importance of grounding the development of the national plan in strong technical evidence and practical experience across the agri-food sector.

“I wish to emphasise that strong technical input is central to this process. We must draw on research, field experience, market intelligence, and monitoring and evaluation systems to inform our decisions,” Parkins said. “Equally important is the knowledge and lived experience of our farmers, processors, exporters, and extension personnel, who interact daily with the realities of production and trade.”

Participants engaged in scenario building, identified key drivers of change, and articulated priority areas for policy action and investment. The outcomes of the sessions will inform the formulation of a comprehensive National Agriculture Development Plan, designed to guide coordinated action and investment in the sector over the next decade.