The Government will be spending $150 million to increase Irish potato production and $80 million to assist onion farmers as part of its strategy to boost the yield of specific crops, to ensure food security.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, said one of the objectives is to increase Irish potato production by 20 tons per hectare over the 2023 to 2024 period.

Speaking at the commencement of the 2023-2024 National Irish Potato and Onion Production and Productivity Incentive Programme, in Chudleigh, Manchester, on September 20, the Minister said the funds will be used to provide crop care and productivity support to a maximum of two hectares per farmer.

“We are going to use that $150 million, plus the support from our various partners, to establish nine validation plots, because we have to enhance our training programmes,” the Minister said.

Other activities will include the staging of farm tours for farmers not directly benefiting from training within the validation plots; strengthening marketing agreements/contracts between farmers and buyers by assisting at least 70 per cent of farmers participating with formal contracts; and field visits and monitoring of Irish potato best practices will be intensified.

Minister Green told his audience that Irish potato and onion development has been part of the Ministry’s priority programmes for a long time, because they contribute directly towards assisting more than 70,000 farmers and direct/indirect employment creation for more than 350,000 Jamaicans.

Areas targeted for Irish potato production are Guy’s Hill in St. Catherine, the Manchester belt, upper Westmoreland (Darliston area), and Mavis Bank in St. Andrew.

The Ministry is working with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) to rehabilitate the Coleyville Cold Storage Facilities in Christiana (Manchester), to provide more storage space for the produce.

Under the programme for onion farmers, they will be provided with technical support, seeds for planting, herbicides and equipment to include rotobedders (land preparation machines), seed planters and tractor service.

“To boost post-harvesting techniques, we have also identified storage in Spring Plains, Clarendon, and Twickenham Park in Spanish Town, St. Catherine,” the Minister said.

He said it has been observed that St. Thomas and St. Elizabeth have been consistently showing the best yields in onion production, adding that the farmers are “taking the training, they are adapting, and are seeing better yields, with focus on precise nutrition, pest and disease control, and soil testing.”

Article from JIS By: GARFIELD L. ANGUS, September 21, 2023

 

The Official Ceremony for the National Irish Potato and Onion Programme

Minister of Agriculture Visits Our Spring Plain Agro Park in Clarendon

Earlier On September 21, 2023, The Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, paid a special visit to the Spring Plain Agro Park to extend his congratulations to the Allium Group, a company comprised of members from the Potato & Onion Producers Association (POPA). During this visit, discussions revolved around their latest venture: the cultivation of acres of onions as part of the National Irish Potato & Onion Programme. This initiative represents a critical step towards boosting local onion production and aligning with the Jamaican government's policy to reduce import bills through expanded local production.

The primary goal of the Allium Group, led by Mr. Sherman Campbell, the President of POPA, is to harness the fertile land at Spring Plain to significantly enhance onion production, ultimately ensuring a consistent supply of onions within the country. This endeavor aligns perfectly with the broader objectives of the National Irish Potato & Onion Programme, which seeks to strengthen Jamaica's agricultural self-sufficiency and reduce its dependency on imports.

One of the key issues that the Allium Group aims to tackle is the nation's import bill. Jamaica, like many other countries, has traditionally relied on imported onions to meet its demand. However, this practice not only affects the country's trade balance but also poses risks related to supply chain disruptions and price fluctuations. By bolstering local onion production, the Allium Group intends to reduce this reliance on imports, ensuring a steady supply of onions to meet domestic needs.