The Urban Harvest Programme, which aims to encourage more Jamaicans to grow their own food, will be rolled out next month.
Under the programme, 3,000 backyard garden kits and vertical hydroponic farms will be distributed, especially across urban centres.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, made the disclosure while providing an update on the ongoing Hurricane Beryl Recovery Programme during the September 24 sitting of the House of Representatives.
“Food security has, again, been brought into sharp focus by Hurricane Beryl. Everywhere you go on the road, old and young are now recognising how important it is for every household to grow some food,” he said, noting that the programme focuses on food security.
Green informed that 250 vertical hydroponic farms will also be distributed under the programme.
“They can be indoor or outdoor, because we have to embrace the technology in relation to food security. This application process will commence in October [and] will be technology-based and on a first come, first serve basis,” he said.
Minister Green advised that the selection criteria for the initiative will be communicated.
“We are also going to be embarking on an urban chicken-rearing programme under the urban harvest programme to, again, build back up our poultry sector,” he further stated.
Meanwhile, Green challenged Members of Parliament (MPs) to initiate fruit-tree replanting in their constituencies. He indicated that 30,000 fruit trees will be distributed among MPs.
“We lost 890 hectares of fruit trees during Hurricane Beryl; as such, we need to embark on a massive fruit-tree replacement programme,” he underscored.
Additionally, the Minister said a $57-million comprehensive land preparation assistance programme is being undertaken within all the affected parishes, to provide tillage and land clearance support to affected farmers.
This initiative not only supports immediate recovery but also enhances the resilience of the agricultural sector, ensuring that farmers are better equipped to withstand future challenges.
“To date, over 190 hectares of land have been prepared, benefiting over 480 farmers across… St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, Manchester, Westmoreland, Trelawny and St. Catherine,” Mr. Green said.
Source: JIS