Agriculture Ministry starts 'Grow Smart, Eat Smart' strategy for food security

Agriculture Minister Pearnel Charles Jr says the ministry has developed a strategic plan to ensure food security amid challenges posed by rising prices and supply issues arising from the war in Ukraine.

Mr. Charles says the Grow Smart, Eat Smart strategy is aimed at optimising production and getting Jamaicans to eat more nutritious foods.

Part of this strategy, he says, will see a thrust towards production of starches to substitute for imported staples like wheat that could be limited by disruptions.

"The ministry, through our divisions and agencies, is rapidly expanding the production of our starches, high fiber foods, roots and tubers such as yams, sweet potato, cassava, banana, bread fruit and plantains, which are to be grown and processed to be used as viable alternatives to anything that we can import to consume," the minister announced during Tuesday's sitting in the House of Representatives.

In addition, he said alternate sources of protein have been identified, leading to increased production of fish, small ruminants, pork, poultry and rabbit.

Mr. Charles said the ministry is also working to combat the effects of rising fertiliser prices as well as shortages. This includes finding alternative source markets and the use of organic fertiliser from household materials.

"This is an existing project that we will be ramping up on a national scale. If it is that fertiliser costs too much, then Jamaica must pivot and we must utilise the mechanisms that will allow us to use what we have," he asserted. Mr. Charles revealed that the ministry is working with Jamaica's main fertiliser manufacturer "to guide research for the development of new blends that will see a more efficient use of fertilisers and therefore cut the cost to farmers".