Jamaica'S Agriculture Industry: Frequently Asked Questions

jamaica’s AGRICULTURE industry
Frequently Asked Questions
Jamaica has a great capacity for food production

and there are many exciting opportunities on the
global market for the sector. The country’s prospects for
developing agriculture and agri-business lie in producing
food in which it has a distinct and competitive advantage,
pursuing product diversification through new value-added
food products.
1 Are there opportunities in agriculture?

There are many opportunities in agriculture, given the
need to feed our population of approximately 2.8 mil-
lion people and the over 3.8 million tourists who visits
our shore annually. To service these markets there is
the need for the full range of vegetables, tubers, dairy
3
products and meat.
What are the opportunities within agriculture?
In addition to the domestic markets, is there
2
Opportunities exist along the entire agriculture supply
an opportunity for exporting Jamaican chain. The agriculture supply chain (see Fig. 1)
produce/products? describes a range of goods and services necessary for
an agricultural product to move from the farm to the
final customer or consumer.
Yes, there are many export opportunities for Jamaican
agricultural products. Jamaican agricultural produce
and its related agro-processed products, continue to
enjoy a reputation worldwide for their unique flavour
profiles. Products such as coffee, cocoa and ginger
readily come to mind and represent a few of the avail-
able opportunities.
FIGURE 1: THE AGRICULTURE SUPPLY CHAIN
4 What are the specific opportunities along provide distribution services

the supply chain?
• Provision of cold storage facilities for a wide
Specific opportunities along the supply chain range of products including fresh produce,
include: flash-frozen food items and meats
• Cultivation of crops for sale to agroprocessors, • Manufacturing of intermediate products such
stores, hotels, retail trade and/or export as purée and mash
• Building out of packing houses/consolidators to
www.tradeandinvestjamaica.org
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5 I am only interested in cultivation. Which

crop should I grow and where can I sell it?
Your agriculture products can be exported or sold
to several local consolidators, agroprocessors,
hotels, supermarkets, exporters and other commercial
interests. In choosing a crop for cultivation, it is
important to determine and assess the needs of the
market, your intended market for sale, your ability to
finance the process and your target income.
6 I am only interested in exporting agricultural

products. Where do I find markets?
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JAMPRO will provide the assistance required in find- How many agroparks exist and what does
ing markets. As the national trade and promotion
the Government provide ?
agency, JAMPRO has ongoing buyer engagement
programmes to link local suppliers with buyers inter- The Government has implemented seven (7) agro
nationally. Additionally, market information can be parks, to date and there are plans to implement more
obtained from various agencies such as Rural Agricul- in the near future. Implementing an agropark may
ture Development Agency (RADA), Jamaica Agricul- include land clearance and installing critical infrastruc-
ture Society (JAS) parish offices, and the respective ture such as irrigation systems, drainage, and access
industry boards. roads, as well as post-harvest facilities such as pack-
ing houses and drying facilities, where warranted.
9 How do I obtain land in an Agro Park?

A formal application must be made to Agro-Invest
Corporation (AIC).
For a copy of the application form, please see:
http://www.agroinvest.gov.jm/Applications/AIC%20
Lease%20application%20form.pdf.
7 I have heard of Agro parks. What benefits

do they provide?
The Agro Parks seek to integrate all facets of the
agricultural value chain from pre-production to pro-
duction, post harvesting and marketing. This ap-
proach promotes intensive and targeted agricultural
production in defined spaces utilizing optimum and
efficient practices to yield improved product outputs.
2
10 Outside of agro parks, where can I access

land for cultivation? 14 Are there incentives to investing in the
sector?
Lands can be attained from private interests such Yes, there are incentives for investing in agricul-
as real estate entities, and from the Government ture. The government recently implemented a very
of Jamaica through the Ministry of Agriculture, the comprehensive set of incentives under the Omnibus
National Land Agency (NLA), and the Factories legislation framework. Specific to agriculture are:
Corporation of Jamaica. JAMPRO can facilitate an
introduction to these entities. • Duty free Importation of equipment and
machinery (with some exceptions)
11 What’s the long term outlook opportunity

for agriculture?
• Duty free importation of certain inputs (including
raw material) into the agricultural process
Jamaica’s agriculture sector is expected to • Concession on specific vehicles for registered
continue to be one of the main contributors of GDP farmers.
growth for Jamaica. With a drive by the Government of
Jamaica to ensure the island’s food security through
import substitution and the strong export demand
for tropical fruits and vegetables, the sector presents
sustainable and viable opportunities for existing and
potential investors.
12 Is the government committed to the

industry?
The Government’s commitment is demonstrated

through the implementation of the agroparks and
the ongoing technical support provided through the
Ministry of Agriculture and its related agencies. The
Government of Jamaica (GoJ) has fully endorsed
agriculture as a key economic growth sector for the
country and has further pledged to dramatically im-
prove infrastructure in the sector through the provi-
sion of irrigation systems, a rotating equipment loan
pool and upgraded farm roads.
13 Why is agriculture important to Jamaica’s

future?
Agriculture is important to Jamaica’s future because
of its ability to provide jobs to its people, to reduce
the country’s trade deficit, to increase the country’s
food security and to earn foreign exchange.
3
15 I am interested in pursuing an agriculture related project, who do

I contact for assistance in progressing my interest?
You should contact Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Jamaica’s

economic development agency, which has the mandate to assist investors
from the early stages of research and due diligence to the late stages of actual
implementation.
HEAD OFFICE NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL OFFICE

18 Trafalgar Road 303 Eglinton Avenue East, 2nd Floor
Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I. Toronto, Ontario, M4P 1L3, Canada
Phone: +1 876 978 7755; 978-3337 Tel: 416 932 2200 (main) 416-598-3008
Toll Free: +1 888 INVESTJA (468 4352) Fax: 416 932 2207
Fax: +1 876 946 0090 Toll-Free: 1 877 744 2208
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE LONDON OFFICE

Montego Bay Convention Centre JAMPRO / Jamaica Trade Commission
Rose Hall, Montego Bay 1 Prince Consort Road,
St. James, Jamaica W.I. London SW7 2BZ, England
Email: [email protected] Phone: + 44 20 7 584 8894
Fax: + 44 20 7 823 9886
email: [email protected]
JAMPRO @February 2017
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jamaica’s AGRICULTURE industry

Frequently Asked Questions

Jamaica has a great capacity for food production

1 Are there opportunities in agriculture?

FIGURE 1: THE AGRICULTURE SUPPLY CHAIN

4 What are the specific opportunities along provide distribution services

5 I am only interested in cultivation. Which

6 I am only interested in exporting agricultural

9 How do I obtain land in an Agro Park?

7 I have heard of Agro parks. What benefits

10 Outside of agro parks, where can I access

11 What’s the long term outlook opportunity

12 Is the government committed to the

The Government’s commitment is demonstrated

13 Why is agriculture important to Jamaica’s

15 I am interested in pursuing an agriculture related project, who do

You should contact Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Jamaica’s

HEAD OFFICE NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL OFFICE

WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE LONDON OFFICE

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