Copyright jamaicaobserver
Latest News International News North & East Environment Social Love Horse Racing World Champs Commonwealth Games FIFA World Cup 2022 Entertainment Art & Culture Tuesday Style Food Awards JOL Takes Style Out Design Week JA Black Friday Relationships Classifieds Motor Vehicles Place an Ad Jobs & Careers Study Centre Jnr Study Centre Advertorial Supplements Latest News International News North & East Environment Social Love Horse Racing World Champs Commonwealth Games FIFA World Cup 2022 Entertainment Art & Culture Tuesday Style Food Awards JOL Takes Style Out Design Week JA Black Friday Relationships Classifieds Motor Vehicles Place an Ad Jobs & Careers Study Centre Jnr Study Centre Advertorial Supplements International News Food Awards Entertainment World Champs Career & Education Environment Advertorial Supplements Classifieds Design Week As the national regulator for Jamaica’s commodities sector, JACRA is responsible for evaluating the hurricane’s effects on the coffee, cocoa, coconut, nutmeg, turmeric, ginger, and pimento industries Agriculture, News November 12, 2025 JACRA plots coordinated response for spice farmers ... Launches task force to assess hurricane damages With the recent launch of a joint taskforce to assess the impact of Hurricane Melissa on the spice commodities sector, the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) has announced plans to provide coordinated relief and support for affected farmers. The task force — comprising key stakeholders from across the commodities industry — has already begun conducting site visits and damage assessments in several affected parishes. As the national regulator for Jamaica’s commodities sector, JACRA is responsible for evaluating the hurricane’s effects on the coffee, cocoa, coconut, nutmeg, turmeric, ginger and pimento industries. According to Wayne Hunter, JACRA’s acting director general, the main objective of the task force is to gather accurate data on crop losses, infrastructure damage, and the immediate needs of farmers and processors to support recovery and rehabilitation efforts. “Many of our farmers have suffered significant setbacks as a result of Hurricane Melissa. This task force allows us to work closely with the industry to identify where help is needed most and to chart a clear path toward recovery and resilience,” Hunter said. “We want the industry and all its stakeholders to know that help is on the way.” JACRA said findings from the task force will inform its recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture regarding sectoral support and will also help to guide future disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies across its regulated industries. Preliminary estimates have already indicated more than $20 billion in losses suffered by the agriculture sector adding to a national expenditure bill, conservatively capped at $1 trillion. “The Ministry of Agriculture is working ardently to ensure our farmers, processors, and exporters are in a position to continue supporting one of Jamaica’s most important sectors. As such, there is a lot of evaluation and recovery work being done,” Hunter said. “It is with this in mind that JACRA is committing to working alongside all our stakeholders — especially our farmers — to ensure no stone is left unturned in these unprecedented times,” he added. As assessments continue, JACRA is urging farmers to stay in contact with their local representatives to report damage and seek guidance on available assistance programmes. The authority, in its continued push to increase the production of regulated commodities by at least 20 per cent, said the aim is for farmers to be able to comfortably fill supply gaps in the hospitality, food service, and agro-processing industries. The body, through its efforts, also aims to facilitate an increase in support systems for market access to regional and international markets. Since last year, JACRA has been advancing these goals through capacity-building and training programmes for farmers, while also encouraging stronger linkages between producers and agro-processors. “The authority will also be promoting the utilisation of climate-smart technologies by Jamaican farmers, fishers, fish farmers, miners, and entrepreneurs in the agriculture and minerals sector,” a report contained in the last Public Bodies Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure said. HUNTER…we want the industry and all its stakeholders to know that help is on the way {"xml":"xml"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} 0 Comments · Make a comment ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER Latest News, Music Green outlines recovery efforts for agriculture sector November 11, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica — Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says the Agricultural Disaster Recovery Task Force, led by Michael Pryce, which was established a... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Over 700 temporary vector control workers employed — Tufton November 11, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica — With the mosquito population already showing an increase in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, including the dengue-carrying Aede... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Over 5,000kg of food condemned since Melissa hit — Tufton November 11, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has revealed that 5,661 kilogrammes of food have been condemned by public he... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Agriculture sustains $29.5 billion in damage from Hurricane Melissa November 11, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, says the sector has suffered some $29.5 billion in losses following th... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Small businesses in Portland struggle after Hurricane Melissa November 11, 2025 PORTLAND, Jamaica — Small business owners across Portland are facing a confluence of setbacks in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Pauline, a shop a... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Allianz Memorial Van Damme donates US$100k to Usain Bolt Foundation for hurricane relief November 11, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Allianz Memorial Van Damme, the Brussels athletics meeting and host of next year’s Wanda Diamond League final, is donating US$... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News Couples Resorts, Issa Trust Foundation launch disaster relief fund BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer November 11, 2025 With the focus on helping their team members navigate the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, Couples Resorts has also sought to help the communi... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} Latest News, News NWC restores water to 72.6 per cent of customers November 11, 2025 KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Water Commission (NWC) has restored supply to 72.6 per cent of its customers across Jamaica. Providing the update dur... {"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"} HOUSE RULES We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email:community@jamaicaobserver.com. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Recent Posts Archives Please enable JavaScript to view the poll powered by Disqus. Recent Posts Archives Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean Featured Tags Entertainment Entertainment Jamaica Observer,© All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy Editorial Code of Conduct
