Melissa devastation renews calls to strengthen Jamaica’s food security
Published:Saturday | November 15, 2025 | 12:17 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
The passage of Hurricane Melissa has reignited urgent discussions around Jamaica’s food security, exposing the nation’s vulnerabilities and underscoring the need to revitalise local agriculture.
Preliminary assessments show losses of $29.5 billion, with more than 41,390 hectares of farmland affected and over 7,000 farmers impacted. The livestock sector also suffered heavily, with about 1.2 million animals lost.
The government is rolling out a $3 billion recovery programme to rehabilitate the sector and help farmers rebuild. In the short term, Jamaica will import fruits, eggs and vegetables to fill supply gaps caused by the hurricane.
John-Paul Bramwell, lecturer at the Caribbean Maritime University, said Melissa is a reminder of how closely food security is tied to national stability.
“Food security is not just an agricultural issue — it’s a matter of survival and sovereignty,” he said. “Every major hurricane exposes how unprepared we are to feed ourselves when global supply chains are strained.”
A recent report from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), revealed that 55.1 per cent of Jamaica’s population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the period 2021 to 2023.
Bramwell explained that the combination of climate change, frequent natural disasters, and urban migration has weakened Jamaica’s agricultural output over time. Yet, despite these challenges, he sees the crisis as an opportunity for transformation.
“This is not just about recovery. It’s about reimagining the sector. We must encourage youth participation, invest in technology-driven farming, and promote sustainable practices that make agriculture both profitable and climate-smart,” he shared with The Gleaner.
Agriculture contributes approximately 9.8 per cent to Jamaica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Bramwell also highlighted the importance of empowering households through backyard farming as a step toward decentralising food production.
“If every Jamaican household could grow even a portion of what they consume, we’d strengthen our resilience,” he said. “Backyard and community farming reduce dependence on imports and ensure that, in times of crisis, we can still access fresh, nutritious food.”
He told The Gleaner that the integration of agriculture with tourism offers untapped potential for growth. “Tourism thrives on authenticity. Imagine every hotel and restaurant serving produce grown right here in Jamaica. That’s how we build Brand Jamaica — by connecting the land to the plate,” Bramwell stated.
Bramwell believes recovery will take time, but sees this as a pivotal moment to reclaim agricultural strength. “The soil beneath our feet is more powerful than we think. If we commit to rebuilding wisely, supporting our farmers, and embracing self-reliance, Jamaica can become not just a food-secure nation, but a global model for sustainable resilience,” he said.