Caribbean Agriculture Officials Discuss Food Security
Minister Floyd Green addressed regional irrigation and disaster mitigation goals in Trelawny.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Is your local government doing enough to protect food production from extreme weather?
At the Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Trelawny, Minister Floyd Green outlined government strategies to bolster food security through enhanced disaster mitigation. These efforts aim to protect agricultural output against increasingly frequent weather events.
Why it matters
Resilience in farming is critical for meeting established food security targets amidst the recurring threat of hurricanes in the region. Strengthening infrastructure ensures consistent production despite power outages and storm damage.
Currently, 30 per cent of arable land in Jamaica has access to irrigation, doubling the 15 per cent coverage reported a decade ago. Officials project that over 50 per cent of arable lands will have water access within the next five years.
The players
Floyd Green
Floyd Green is a government minister who addressed regional agricultural challenges and development strategies at the summit.
The details
The government has introduced proactive measures including the purchase of backup generators to keep irrigation systems running during power outages. Additionally, the ministry now distributes essential seeds and fertilisers to farmers within one week of a hurricane impact.
Timeline
15 per cent of arable land had water access in 2016.
Hurricane Beryl impacted the region in 2024.
Hurricane Melissa impacted the region in October 2025.
The disaster mitigation and planning team meets every January.
Caribbean Week of Agriculture takes place from September 27 to October 2, 2026.
Culture Shift
Agricultural planning in the region is increasingly defined by climate adaptation rather than purely output growth. This strategy reflects a long-term societal shift toward ensuring food sovereignty through robust infrastructure against natural disasters.
Farmers can expect more reliable access to irrigation systems even during major power disruptions. These infrastructure improvements are designed to stabilize food supply chains, potentially reducing the volatility of fresh produce availability for the general public.
The takeaway
Building infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather is now the primary metric for regional agricultural success. These improvements provide a buffer that allows local food systems to recover more rapidly after seasonal storms.
Further reading
For more on regional agricultural sustainability, visit Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jamaica Observer.
Live Poll
Is your local government doing enough to protect food production from extreme weather?
