ELATION filled the boardroom of the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) on Wednesday as women coffee farmers learnt they were set to receive training, farm inputs, and tools under a $15-million initiative to assist in their recovery from Hurricane Melissa.

The announcement, which was heralded by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green, brought out bright smiles and expressions of gratitude from the ladies who were present at the handover ceremony of 12 high-powered chainsaws to coffee farmers.

The handover was made through the partnership of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Embassy of Japan in Jamaica, and forms part of the recovery efforts following the widespread damage caused by the Category 5 hurricane, which made landfall on October 28, 2025 and wreaked havoc on farming communities.

From Flamstead in east rural St Andrew, Claudine Walker could not contain her excitement. She told the Jamaica Observer that she has been battling inclement weather for the past two years and was grateful for any help she could get.

“As a woman in coffee, I feel great. Oftentimes it’s me alone on the farm so I really appreciate whatever help I get. For me it was Hurricane Beryl (2024) first and I felt like I was going to give up from then, but I kept going, and now [Hurricane] Melissa. I have two farms, one that is devastated and one that I’m living from. So I’m happy for the help, God really is good,” said Walker.

Her sentiments were shared by Bernice Barrett from Irish Town, also located in the hills of St Andrew, who noted that funds were not always available to pay labourers and as such an initiative focused on the betterment of women farmers was highly welcomed.

“I appreciate the help for us women because sometimes we don’t have the funds to pay someone to work, so if I get the tools I can help myself,” she said.

Her friend who stood next to her and identified herself as Natoya Wickham, chimed in expressing the alienation she’s experienced as a female farmer, and shared how pleased she was at JACRA’s and the Government’s decision to make a woman-focused programme.

Meriam McDonald was also eager to share her thoughts on the initiative, noting that while she was grateful, she hoped that the commitment would be treated as top priority and delivered in a timely manner.

“What they are giving out here today, I really need the saw because it would be of great benefit to me. I also heard that they were placing emphasis on us as women, and I really like the sound of that,” McDonald said.

Also hoping for commitment from the agricultural agencies was Ferreta Aymore who told the
Observer that while she found the initiative to be of high importance, she was cautious to first witness its implementation before celebrating.

“For me I have two different farms, and the one with coffee, banana and other crops — that one is finished. It is destroyed. There is nothing left. The other one, currently there’s rain in Portland and there’s nine men there working. So we have to seek help from community members even though at times it’s not free, which is understandable. So overall I’m feeling good and having high expectations,” she said.

Portfolio minister Floyd Green acknowledged the resilience of all coffee farmers, and said he intended to continue encouraging and supporting their livelihoods.

“When I go out into the communities, the ladies especially complain of the labour issues that they have. But every time they complain, they say, ‘Minister, just give us the equipment. We will get it done ourselves.’ So we’re going to be working with our women because of the value of the role that you play in the value chain,” said Green.