St Elizabeth farmers get solar-powered cold storage

Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-09 | Original Article

More than 1,000 fruit and vegetable farmers in Flagaman, St Elizabeth and surrounding areas now have access to modern cold storage facilities worth US$57,000 ($9 million). The facilities are expected to reduce spoilage, increase productivity and profitability, and stabilise market supply.

 

Flagaman is one of Jamaica’s leading communities for growing tomatoes, melons and cantaloupes.

 

Two 20-foot, solar-powered cold storage containers, established under the CARICOM Agri-Boost Project and supported by the Government of New Zealand, officially opened on Friday.

 

The project aims to strengthen regional food security and empower women and young people in agribusiness. It also includes five modern greenhouses valued at US$64,000 ($10.2 million).

 

“This investment allows us to fast-track our systems around resilience, increase productivity in a real way, and introduce the kind of innovation that farmers have longed for,” Agriculture Minister Floyd Green said at the official opening at the Flagaman Community Centre.

 

“The idea is that, in and out of season, even during weather-related events, Flagaman and St Elizabeth should always have food,” Green said, adding that the investment will help the community fast-track resilience, increase productivity, and introduce the kind of innovation farmers have long sought.

 

At the same time, the ministry launched a rapid cattle-tagging blitz in St Elizabeth under the National Animal Identification and Traceability System.

 

The initiative, which began in Mountainside on Saturday, aims to clear backlogs and register cattle ahead of the festive season.

 

Speaking to farmers in Flagaman, Green urged them to take advantage of the opportunity.

 

He said the tagging programme will improve livestock traceability and management, particularly after Hurricane Melissa, and provide protection against praedial larceny.

 

“The best way to stop them [praedial larcenists] is to be able to trace the animals,” he said, noting that while the programme will begin with cattle, it will extend to other livestock.

 

The ministry is also working to establish a veterinary field hospital in western Jamaica, after three of the four veterinary stations there were severely damaged during Hurricane Melissa. International partners are being engaged to support the effort.

 

The Veterinary Services Division has already hosted free clinics across St Elizabeth, St James, Westmoreland and Trelawny. Farmers and pet owners received treatment, medication, wound care, vaccines and nutritional support for their animals.

 

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