FAO and GOJ Hand Over Fertiliser to Farmers for Hurricane Recovery Support

  • Farmers across several parishes are set to benefit from a new round of fertiliser and planting material support, as the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) strengthens recovery efforts in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The initiative forms part of a broader push to restore agricultural production post-Hurricane Melissa, with a clear focus on helping farmers return to the fields and restore output.
  • Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, said the effort reflects ongoing work to engage farmers across the island and provide the support needed to get production back on track. The latest phase of assistance was highlighted during a handover ceremony at the Trelawny branch of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in Hague.
  • Under the initiative, approximately 600 bags of fertiliser are being distributed, alongside seeds for crops such as cabbage, carrot, cucumber, sweet pepper, onion, tomato, watermelon and corn. The inputs are intended to fast-track replanting while supporting both short-term recovery and sustained food production.
  • The FAO’s representative for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize, Ana Touza, explained that the fertiliser will assist farmers across six parishes as they work to restore their fields and livelihoods. She also pointed to the central role of RADA in ensuring the efficient distribution of supplies to affected communities.
  • The intervention is part of a wider, coordinated programme that combines immediate assistance with longer-term resilience planning for the agricultural sector. With partnerships playing a key role in expanding the reach of support, the recovery effort is expected to strengthen output and stability. The rebound in agriculture has also contributed to inflation declining faster than expected since the start of 2026.
  • The distribution of fertiliser also comes at a critical time for local farmers, as energy prices have faced upward pressure due to the ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict, which has contributed to higher fertiliser prices. Of note, over the past three years (2023-2025), the Gulf countries were the single biggest regional exporter of urea and ammonia (both nitrogen-based), and the second largest regional exporter of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilisers.
  • Therefore, any sustained reduction in LNG production and/or shipments from the Gulf (Qatar supplies around 10% of globally traded natural gas) will have significant implications for nitrogen fertiliser production worldwide1. As such, this support will help to cushion Jamaican farmers from external shocks and facilitate continued production despite volatile international conditions.

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1Natural gas is both a key feedstock and the primary energy source for producing ammonia, the building block for all nitrogen fertilisers. Jamaica primarily imports mineral or chemical fertilisers, including nitrogenous, potassic, and compound fertilisers, with total imports valued at US$12.45Mn in 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

(Sources: JIS & NCBCM Research)