Prosperity Through Partnerships: Building Resilience in Jamaica’s Agriculture Sector
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in late October 2025 as the strongest hurricane ever recorded to hit Jamaica. The storm brought strong winds and heavy rainfall, devastating the island’s vital agriculture and fisheries sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining estimates losses of more than J$30 billion, impacting over 70,000 farmers and damaging 41,390 hectares of farmland.
Agriculture employs nearly one in five Jamaicans, and the parish of St. Elizabeth— one of the country’s most important agricultural hubs—was among the hardest hit.
As one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world, the Caribbean faces increasingly frequent and severe weather events. Many farmers and fisheries were still rebuilding from 2024’s Hurricane Beryl when Hurricane Melissa destroyed their recovering crops, livestock, and equipment—pushing already vulnerable livelihoods to the brink.
Recognizing the urgent need to protect livelihoods and food security, WUSC, in partnership with the Government of Canada, mobilized quickly to support Jamaica’s recovery.
Supporting Jamaica’s Hurricane Recovery
Through our sustainable agriculture project in the Caribbean (SAC), funded by Global Affairs Canada, we are supporting rapid recovery, economic stability, and long-term resilience in Jamaica’s agricultural sector.
Over 1000 farmers have received agriculture recovery kits, containing seeds, fertilizer, and essential supplies—helping families restart production one crop and one livestock cycle at a time.
This response builds on the strong partnerships established through our work. By working closely with partners across government, private sector, and civil society organizations, we are delivering targeted support that meets farmers’ immediate needs with the resources they need while reinforcing long-term resilience.
Recovery efforts also align with ongoing work to promote and strengthen climate-smart and climate-resilient agricultural practices—skills that have proven critical in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
Leveraging Canadian Innovation in Agriculture
Beyond immediate relief, we are leveraging Canadian agriculture expertise to strengthen Jamaica’s recovery. Through a strategic “trade-and-aid” initiative, we are also supporting the restoration of the island’s potato production.
Each participating farmer will receive two bags of premium Chieftain potato seeds, sourced from the world-renowned Canadian producer McCains, along with a comprehensive Crop Recovery Tech-Pack. This pack includes essential inputs for soil nutrition and crop management, ensuring that farmers have the resources needed to manage their plots from planting to market.
“I am so so appreciative of this [support],” said Alice, a farmer from Claremont, St.Ann. “After Hurricane Melissa, I suffered a great loss so I am really grateful.”
“This will help me to put back something on the farm,” added Azan, a farmer from the Trysee District, St.Ann. “[It] give[s] me likkle [little] hope and help[s] me financially.”
“This is more than just an emergency donation; it is a strategic investment in Jamaica’s food security,” said Nelsa English-Johnson, SAC Project Country Coordinator for Jamaica. “By bringing the best of Canadian agricultural technology directly to the hands of Jamaican women and youth, we are ensuring that the recovery process is not only rapid but also inclusive and resilient.”
A Commitment to Long-Term Resilience
WUSC has a strong track record of disaster response in the Caribbean. Following Hurricane Beryl, we provided hundreds of farmers with seedlings and storm preparedness training—laying the groundwork for faster recovery when disaster strikes again.
Canada continues to be an instrumental partner in Jamaica’s agricultural recovery. On a recent visit, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State for International Development, reaffirmed Canada’s long-term commitment to the island.
“Our goal is to help them become self-reliant, resilient farmers. We have a real love and affinity with Jamaica. We have strong people-to-people ties. We have a strong history of collaboration with the island, and that’s why we’re in this for the long haul.”
Climate change will continue to pose serious challenges. Through our sustainable agriculture work in the Caribbean, we are advancing climate-smart agriculture across Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Suriname—transforming agricultural systems to withstand future shocks.
The Canada–Jamaica partnership highlights the power of international cooperation in the face of climate-induced disasters.
Together with our partners, we are bridging Canadian agricultural excellence with Jamaican farming resilience—restoring livelihoods, strengthening food security, and building a more resilient future.