Presentación realizada en la VII Reunión del Grupo de Trabajo 2025 (GT2025) de la Iniciativa América Latina y Caribe sin Hambre, en Guatemala entre el 21 y 22 de noviembre. Jam

1.
HUNGER FREE LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN
INITIATIVE
VII METTING OF THE 2025 WORKING GROUP,
GUATEMALA CITY, 21 AND 22 NOVEMBER 2013
JAMAICA

2. NATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN FAMILY AGRICULTURE
Jamaica’s Experience

3. BACKGROUND
 Agriculture/farming
in Jamaica is concentrated
to the rural areas of the country
 It
is therefore the main source of income for
persons living in the rural areas
 There
are approximately 228,000 farmers in
Jamaica currently, of which 151,929 operates
on farms of one (1) hectare or less (66.6%).

4. BACKGROUND cont’d
Jamaica’s
economic development has
been based primarily on agricultural
production particularly by traditional
export crops.
Traditional crops include: sugar cane,
bananas, coffee, coconuts, citrus,
pimento, cocoa.
These crops have seen a reduction in
exports over the years.

5. BACKGROUND cont’d
Non-traditional
crops such vegetables,
products from aquaculture and fisheries
and root crops have seen increases in the
value of exports over the years

6. Major Challenges
Rising
Food Import Bill USD 959 million
(from USD 241m in 1994 to USD959m in
2012)
Increasing poverty (16.5 %) especially in
the rural areas.
High Cost of input (high production cost)
Low Agricultural Productivity

7. Jamaica’s Progress towards
MDG 1
Jamaica has made notable progress in poverty
reduction over 20 years. However, recent global
food, fuel and financial crises, and the high levels
of national debt threaten to escalate Jamaica's
economic difficulties and reverse the progress
made thus far.

8. NATIONAL EXPERIENCE
In
an effort to improve production in the
Agricultural Sector: ( improving livelihood
of Rural Communities and stemming
Rural Urban Drift) the Govt
Improvement in infrastructure such as;
◦ Farm roads and
◦ National Irrigation Development Project

9. NATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Linkages
with key stakeholders (Tourism
hoteliers, supermarket chain) eg. Farmers
Markets
Eat Jamaica Campaign
Backyard Gardening Programme
School Gardening Programmes
Developement of the School Feeding
Policy

10. NATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Establishment
of packaging houses to reduce
post harvest losses and to support increased
production
Building
of Houses for Farmers in the Sugar
Dependent areas under Barracks Relocation
Project:

11. NATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Import Reduction Strategy
Agro Parks – Govt flagship project, and it
represents an integrated system involving
all critical infrastructure for
• Production
• Marketing and
• Distribution

12. NATIONAL EXPERIENCE
The
Agro Parks represents (Public
Private Partnership) with Government
and private investors
Provision of land at concessionary rate
100 acres of land for young farmers

13. NATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Onion and Irish Potato Program –
80% self sufficient
Storage Capacity
Concessionary Loans
Provision of Seeds

14. NATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sorghum Production
Through collaboration with the Jamaica
Broilers group limited 800 acres will be
made available for the production of
sorghum, thus reducing grain imports for
animal feed

15. Strategic Alliances with the FAO
Assistance
to Manage Citrus Greening in
Jamaica (Laboratory/ diagnostic upgrade,
training, disease free materials)
Strengthening
a National Beet Army
Worm Management Programme (IPM,
farmer field schools, pest forecasting & training)
Assistance
to the Dairy Industry in the
Formulation of a Five Year Strategic Plan

16. Strategic Alliances with the FAO
Increase
Production of Root and Tubers
Crops through the introduction of
marketing and production technologies
Strengthening
community preparedness
and resilience to natural disasters in
selected vulnerable areas in Jamaica
(development of ADRM plans, training & livelihood
assessment)

17. Strategic Alliances with FAO
The
FNS Policy was developed with
assistance from the FAO.
The
Policy was approved as a White
Paper on 1st May 2013 by the Cabinet ;
Then it was Tabled in the Houses of
Parliament on 8th May 2013 as a White
Paper

18. JAMAICA’S COMMITMENT CONT’D
 Key
players in the process of strengthening and
implementing food security as a political priority
(MULTISECTORAL):
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
The Planning Institute of Jamaica
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security
The Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Health
 All supported by Parliament and Cabinet

19. Preparation of FNS Action Plan
 FAO
supported the development of the National Food
and Nutrition Security Action Plan (NFNSAP) 2013 to
2022.
 The
formulation of the NFNSAP was guided by the four
Technical Sub-committees and involved consultations
with relevant bodies/stakeholders at the national level.
 The
participatory/consultative process was aimed at
creating a strong sense of ownership among all
stakeholders,

20. Preparation of FNS Action Plan
cont’d
The
process is in line with the Right to
Food provisions of the NFNSP which
promote widespread participation and
inclusiveness. (PANTHER)
The
NFNSAP focuses on actions that will
benefit all households with special
emphasis on small, poor producers,
youth, women and consumers

21. Status of FNS Action Plan
The
Draft Action Plan was validated at
the end of August 2013.
Over 50 stakeholders from a wide cross
section of participated in the workshop.
Comments have been incorporated in
the Draft Document.
The Action Plan will be submitted to
Cabinet for approval as a White Paper

22. Governments Commitment
The
Government has proposed to enact
the FOOD SECURITY LAW and this will
also ensure that institutions of the State
through their procurement programme
utilise minimum levels of locally produced
foods.

23. GOING FORWARD:
IMPROVEMENT IS REQUIRED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS;
•
•
•
•
•
Research and Development
Marketing
Transportation infrastructure
ICT in Agriculture/Extension
Access to credit and other financial
services

24. GOING FORWARD
Reducing
our dependence on imported
foods and
Increasing
local productivity

25. Thank You