St Elizabeth, Jamaica – The UK Government has contributed J$7.6 billion to a new state-of-the-art agro-processing facility and administrative building which was officially opened Wednesday in Essex Valley, St Elizabeth.

The facility will strengthen Jamaica’s food security, climate resilience, and agricultural productivity, according to a statement from the British High Commission in Jamaica.

Wednesday’s ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green; representatives of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); and representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom.

“Funded by the UK Government through the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF) and implemented by the CDB and the Government of Jamaica, the Essex Valley Agricultural Development Project represents one of the most significant UK investments in Jamaica’s climate‑resilient agriculture sector,” said the high commission.

It said the project is part of the wider J$74.68 billion UKCIF programme supporting critical Caribbean infrastructure. Jamaica to date has received JMD $11.61 billion from UKCIF for two major agricultural projects, including Essex Valley.

The Essex Valley project has already delivered tangible improvements for farmers and rural communities including:

-810 hectares of irrigated farmland;

-62 km of improved agricultural roads;

-new solar power systems, that will power the irrigation network and facilities with renewable energy; and

-food safety and sanitation sreas, with 30 dedicated facilities across the valley providing improved compliance with food handling standards.

The high commission notes that new agroprocessing facility will allow farmers across St Elizabeth, Jamaica’s famed “breadbasket”, to store, process, and market produce more efficiently, thereby improving access to markets and strengthening resilience in the face of increasingly severe climate impacts.

Speaking at Wednesday’s ceremony, Andrew Bowden, UK Development Representative for Jamaica and Caribbean Regional Counsellor, underscored the importance of resilient infrastructure for food production and community stability. Despite being in St Elizabeth, one of the parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa, the newly constructed infrastructure and solar panels held firm.

“When storms come – and as climate change makes them stronger – infrastructure that withstands those storms become part of the response, not part of the damage… It protects lives. It protects livelihoods. And it gives communities hope,” said Bowden.

The UK’s investment also focuses on people. More than 600 farmers have been trained, including participation from women, young people, and persons with disabilities, helping to build a stronger, more inclusive agricultural workforce.

Bowden also highlighted the strength of the UK-Jamaica-CDB partnership, noting: “The partnership between the Government of Jamaica, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the United Kingdom has delivered real, measurable benefits. Together, we are building the foundations for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness acknowledged the partnership by stating: “The United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Facility, implemented by the Caribbean Development Bank, supports the development of key infrastructure across the Caribbean. In aligning its international aid priorities with its longstanding historical ties to the region, the United Kingdom made a dedicated provision of funding. The Essex Valley project became possible through this targeted support. We express our gratitude to UKCIF for making this a reality.”

For his part, Dr Martin Baptiste, Division Chief, Social Sector Division, CDB, underscored the significance of the achievement.

“The facility and building that we are opening today are among the successes of the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project – one of the most ambitious and transformational agricultural investments undertaken in Jamaica in recent years,” Baptiste said.

“At its core lies a simple but powerful idea: that sustainable, climate‑resilient agriculture can anchor rural prosperity. The facilities we are commissioning today embody that vision,” he added.