Agricultural funding initiatives launched in Jamaica and Namibia

In Jamaica, the Government has allocated an additional $50 million to its drought-intervention programme. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green announced that the funds will support farmers through the procurement of water storage tanks and drip irrigation systems to improve water efficiency as rainfall resumes.

The initiative includes expanding irrigation infrastructure, such as the Parnassus system in Clarendon and the Essex Valley programme in St Elizabeth, which is nearing completion. These efforts aim to bolster national food security and increase agricultural production ahead of the Christmas period.

In Namibia, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has secured N$40 million to purchase grain from local farmers who have struggled with market access. However, ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda noted that this amount may be insufficient to cover all grain currently held in storage.

The funds are being channeled through the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (Amta). While the intervention has been welcomed by local farming groups, stakeholders have emphasized the need for competitive pricing that covers production costs and the establishment of a long-term procurement framework to ensure future stability.