Green urges animal welfare to be built into disaster planning

WESTERN BUREAU:

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green is calling for animal health and welfare to be formally integrated into disaster risk reduction and management strategies across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

In remarks delivered by Orville Palmer, chief technical director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, at the opening ceremony of the Joint 34th Caribbean Veterinary Medical Association and 8th Pan Commonwealth Veterinary Conference in Trelawny on Tuesday, Green said recent disasters have exposed the vulnerability of the region’s livestock sector.

“Given the scale of recent disasters, I am calling for the inclusion of animal health and welfare in disaster risk reduction and management for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean,” said Green.

He pointed to the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl and Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island within a 16-month period.

“In just 16 months, Jamaica was ravaged by two serious hurricanes, Beryl in July 2024 and Melissa in October 2025, resulting in the loss of over 1.6 million animals, primarily poultry,” he said.

Hurricane Melissa alone resulted in the loss of more than 1.25 million animals, including poultry, cattle and small ruminants.

“This was not just a blow to our farmers, but to our nation’s food security and livelihoods,” he said.

IMMEDIATE RECOVERY EFFORTS

Despite the scale of the damage, Palmer said recovery efforts began immediately through coordinated action involving the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, farmers and private-sector partners.

As part of those efforts, the ministry distributed 100,000 day-old chicks to affected farmers, along with more than 20,000 bags of animal feed, veterinary pharmaceuticals and infrastructure kits valued at approximately $40 million. Ten free veterinary clinics were also staged in heavily affected parishes through partnerships involving the Veterinary Services Division, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Jamaica Agricultural Society, the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Looking ahead, Green said disaster risk and recovery management systems must be strengthened with animals explicitly taken into account.

“As we strengthen our disaster risk and recovery management systems, we must do so with animals in mind. Protecting companion animals, livestock and wildlife alongside human populations ensures a systematic process of planning, response and recovery,” he said.

Green added that such an approach would mitigate risks to animal welfare, safeguard public health and accelerate community recovery by protecting livelihoods.

In declaring the joint veterinary conference open, Green stressed the importance of veterinary expertise in strengthening the region’s agricultural resilience.

“As we build back stronger and move from resilience to resurgence, we must embrace local and international veterinary expertise as critical pillars of food security, safe trade and farmer livelihood,” he said.

Veterinary professionals from more than 20 countries across the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia are participating in the conference, which concludes today.

“At a time when small island states like Jamaica are rebuilding stronger, we are developing strategies to shock-proof our agricultural systems, our health systems and our natural resources through technology and innovation,” said Green.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com