KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda has pledged J$80 million from the Productivity Incentive Programme for coffee farmers towards the purchase of inputs such as fertilisers and fungicides, in order to increase their level of productivity.

The minister made the disclosure at a press briefing where he provided an update on developments in the coffee industry, addressed concerns of the coffee farmers, and advised on the way forward, at his New Kingston offices today.

The allocation of the sum to the farmers is a show of the continued support to coffee farmers in Jamaica in an effort to see the sector grow, according to a release from the ministry this evening.

According to Samuda, given the increased production and lower prices being offered for coffee this year to farmers, they will be hard-pressed to produce the required quantities of inputs necessary to secure next year’s production.

“Under these circumstances, we have to provide the necessary support to ease the current challenges being faced by our coffee farmers. Every farmer must be supported at all levels. This is our first attempt to support them. Anything to move the coffee industry forward, we are prepared to do so”, the minister stated.

“What we want is a coffee industry. What we want to do is to increase the production of high mountain and lowland coffee. The objective will be to ensure that the coffee produced in Jamaica, blended or pure, is born of Jamaican soil, grown right here in Jamaica. This business of being dependent on imported cheap coffee beans, which are then blended with our rich Blue Mountain has to come to an end, and we must work towards that objective”, he said.

The minister also added that the goal is the eventual stop to importation of green beans into the island.

He informed that under the soon-to-be enacted JACRA Regulations, a cess will be placed on imported roasted coffee beans, which will be implemented as soon as the regulations are completed.

Also in attendance were members of Parliament from the coffee areas – Juliet Holness, East Rural St Andrew, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, West Rural St Andrew, and Daryl Vaz, West Portland, and other players in the coffee industry.