Modernise agriculture or miss economic opportunities, JAS exec warns
Published:Monday | October 20, 2025 | 12:05 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
President of the Clarendon Association of Branch Societies, Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Andre Anderson, has issued a call for Jamaicans to move beyond talk and take decisive and coordinated action to transform the country’s agricultural sector into a modern, research-driven powerhouse.
Anderson, describing agriculture as “the foundation of our survival, our culture, and our pathway to economic independence,’’ said the time has come to take agriculture seriously.
He told The Gleaner that true prosperity would only be achieved when the nation begins to treat agriculture as both an essential industry and a viable entrepreneurial frontier.
Time for action
“The time come! And, this time, it is not just a catchy phrase – it is a call to action,” Anderson said. “If Jamaica is to achieve lasting prosperity, we must begin to take agriculture in all its forms seriously: production, entrepreneurship, agro-processing, engineering, and research.”
Anderson lamented that Jamaica continues to be known for “samples” rather than consistent large-scale output. Despite being globally admired for the flavour and quality of its produce, he said the country has failed to transition from small-scale production to export-ready volumes.
“We boast about having the best-tasting fruits in the world but, when asked to supply in volume, all we can offer are two or three fruits,” he said.
Jamaica produced approximately 779,254 tonnes of domestic crops in 2023 – its second-highest output ever, though down from 846,508 tonnes in 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Yet, only a fraction of this production reaches export markets, and much of the land remains underutilised.
Currently, less than 15 per cent of Jamaica’s arable land is cultivated, despite nearly 40 per cent being suitable for farming. Moreover, small farms – those under five acres – still account for roughly 78 per cent of holdings, highlighting the challenge of achieving scale.
Anderson argued that Jamaica has untapped potential in several key crops. “Ackee, our national fruit, already commands a premium price abroad, but, year after year, demand far exceeds supply,” Anderson said.
He also cited breadfruit, mangoes, and coconuts as underexploited products capable of earning significant foreign exchange. “In a world leaning toward gluten-free foods, breadfruit flour has immense potential,” he told The Gleaner, adding that Jamaica should aim to dominate that market.
In 2023 alone, Jamaica earned over US$40 million from yam exports, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica – proof, he said, that agricultural exports can drive national revenue if properly developed.
“These are not just crops,” Anderson declared. “They are opportunities to create lasting wealth.”
Call for agricultural Silicon Valley
Anderson stressed that agricultural growth must go hand-in-hand with innovation, urging the establishment of a Jamaican equivalent of Silicon Valley – dedicated entirely to agricultural science and technology. Silicon Valley is a technology hub in Northern California, known for its innovation, start-ups, and major companies like Apple, Google, and Tesla. It grew from early silicon chip manufacturing and remains a global centre for technology and venture capital.
“Agriculture cannot grow on tradition alone. We need research, innovation, and technology,” he said.
The lack of a robust research infrastructure, he noted, has led to brain drain, as young scholars in fields like animal nutrition and crop science seek opportunities abroad. “We have bright minds with nowhere to apply their skills,” Anderson lamented.
Turning to agro-processing, Anderson noted that while Jamaican products are globally recognised for flavour and authenticity, the country continues to struggle with consistency of supply.
“The hot sauce industry is worth millions of US dollars, yet processors can’t get enough Scotch bonnet peppers to meet export demand,” Anderson said.
Agro-processing hindered by poor planning
He added that the collapse of initiatives like Ja Spice and the lack of large-scale pimento and ginger cultivation reflect a worrying absence of planning. “We cannot speak of Brand Jamaica while failing to ensure a steady supply of the products that define our cuisine,” he said.
Anderson also challenged policymakers to create long-term financing mechanisms tailored to the sector, arguing that farmers and agro-entrepreneurs remain heavily constrained by short loan tenures and high interest rates.
“Agriculture deserves dedicated, long-term financing,” he insisted. “It’s the one sector with the greatest multiplier effect on rural communities, employment, and national GDP.”
Agriculture currently contributes roughly 9.8 per cent of GDP, and employs about 14.6 per cent of Jamaica’s workforce. Yet, experts estimate the figure could be far higher if value-added processing and technology-based solutions were scaled up.
“We cannot keep doing agriculture the same way and expect different results,” he said. “If Jamaica is to prosper, change is not optional. We cannot keep silent and regret later that we did not fight for the Jamaica we wanted. Agriculture is not just about food, it’s about wealth creation, innovation, and national pride. The ‘time come’ for us to invest in our farmers, our scientists, and our agro-entrepreneurs.”
He added: “The ‘time come’ for us to stop talking and start planting, processing, researching, and exporting. The ‘time come’ – and the time is now.”