KINGSTON, Jamaica— Three farmers who exemplify exceptional dedication, resilience, and creativity in their support of local communities were awarded gift certificates valued at a total of $175,000 from ISRATECH Jamaica Limited under their recently launched ISRATECH October Cares Initiative.

The initiative is aimed at celebrating and elevating the profile of farmers whose tireless efforts are critical to the country’s food security, the company said in a press release on Thursday.

The farmers were selected from the ‘My Farmer, My Hero’ Competition which was the highlight of the ISRATECH Cares initiative.

For the competition, people were asked to nominate famers in their communities and share compelling stories and videos about them and their resilience and contribution to their communities.

From a pool of inspiring submissions, three outstanding farmers were honoured for their remarkable contributions. The third-place winner was awarded with a gift certificate for $25,000, while the second-place recipient received a certificate valued at $50,000. The grand prize, worth over $100,000, was awarded to ‘ISRATECH’S 2024 Farmer Hero’, Everton Caballero, a small farmer in Clarendon.

The grand prize included essential agricultural supplies such as a water tank, irrigation materials, and fertiliser, ISRATECH said.

“Beyond mere acknowledgment, the competition sparked a powerful community movement, highlighting the deep respect and gratitude Jamaicans have for their farmers,” the company added.

In a gesture of further appreciation, the Chukka Foundation also presented gift certificates to both the winning farmers and their nominators.

“We believe in the power of agriculture to shape our future and sustain communities,” said Marketing Manager of ISRATECH Jamaica, Patricia Grant. 

“Through initiatives like ISRATECH Cares and the ‘My Farmer, My Hero’ competition, we are not only supporting farmers with products but also giving them the recognition they deserve. Partnering with the Chukka Foundation allows us to deepen that impact and inspire others to appreciate the work our farmers do. This initiative is just the beginning of ISRATECH’s ongoing commitment to the agricultural sector,” Grant added.