Agriculture Minister Floyd Green urges productive use of Government-invested farmland

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green has urged farmers to make productive use of farmland especially land in which the Government has invested.

He made the appeal yesterday at the National Irrigation Commission’s official launch of the Hartlands Irrigation Project in St. Catherine.

The Hartlands Irrigation Project represents a significant investment in Jamaica’s agricultural future, forming part of the Ministry’s strategic programme to expand irrigation infrastructure and strengthen reliable access to water for farmers across the island.

The project will provide water to 21 farmers cultivating approximately 125 acres of land within the Hartlands farming community.

Through improved water access, the initiative is expected to enhance crop productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and support sustainable agricultural development.

The project also facilitates the relocation of farmers by SCJ Holdings Limited and forms part of a wider effort to prepare and optimize arable lands for increased food production.

Green noted that the under-utilization of arable land is among the biggest threats to agriculture.

He said with Christmas just a few months away, farmers who use the land now will get a good return on their investment.