Business

RYEEP Agribusiness Pitch Competition Returns Following Breakthrough First Year

AnyFans 2025-09-20

By Astha Prendergast

The Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP) Builder National Agribusiness Pitch Competition will return for a second year, following the resounding success of its inaugural staging.

Jamaica 4-H Clubs Business and Entrepreneurship Development Manager, Amanda McKenzie, noted that participants from the 2024/25 cohort were empowered to assess and strengthen their agricultural enterprises through targeted training in business model development, strategic planning, and five-year financial projections.

“Some of the persons who participated in the pitch competition, they indicated that that was the first time that they participated in an activity of that nature. They were emboldened, they felt more confident, they felt more aware of their business operations because, again, they had to go through the whole process of developing their business models, [and] doing their business plans,” she told JIS News.

Ms. McKenzie added that, “coming out of that process, they felt more confident in understanding their business and being able to pitch that to potential investors”.

The competition is conducted in two stages – regional qualifiers and the national finals.

The regional round was staged across western, central, and eastern Jamaica, with 32 agri-entrepreneurs vying for advancement to the national finals. From this cohort, 12 regional winners were selected to compete in the culminating event.

Due to the impressive quality of pitches presented, two participants were awarded joint first place, each receiving the grand prize of $1 million. In response to the calibre of ideas showcased, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, committed an additional $500,000 for the first runner-up and $250,000 for the second runner-up.

Beyond the financial incentives, each participant is expected to demonstrate strategic thinking, effective communication, and problem-solving skills, while actively incorporating mentor feedback to optimise business models and strengthen their enterprises.

Additionally, participants receive support in evaluating the viability of potential markets for their enterprises and are exposed to strategic networking opportunities with prospective investors and partners.

“So, for the pitch competition, we want to encourage them to have a more intimate understanding of their businesses and business models… and being able to pitch that, whether it is to investors, [or] to persons within the agricultural space, so that they can have partnerships that enhance their entities,” Ms. McKenzie stated.

“We want to ensure that persons have marketable ideas, and they have the skills to access funding for those as well,” she added.

A total of $5 million has been committed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining to be awarded among the top-three winners of the competition’s 2025/26 cohort.

The RYEEP Builder Programme is facilitated by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and the HEART/NSTA Trust.