Isratech and partners launch national farm tour to help farmers recover after Hurricane Melissa
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Isratech and its partners are set to launch their resilience farm tour, an islandwide initiative aimed at helping farmers recover, rebuild, and adopt more resilient farming practices following the impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa on the Jamaican agriculture sector.
“Jamaica’s farmers need more than sympathy after disaster. They need practical support, access to solutions, and the confidence that recovery after any disaster is possible,” said Benjamin Hodara, chief executive officer of Isratech, in a media release.
“The Resilience Farm Tour is about meeting farmers where they are, helping them rebuild with purpose, and demonstrating that resilience in agriculture must become part of how we farm going forward,” he added.
The tour will be officially launched on April 8, 2026, and forms part of this year’s Farmers’ Month activities, It will bring direct support to farming communities across the island under the theme “From Recovery to Resilience”.
The initiative will provide practical, climate-smart interventions to small and medium-scale farmers, while demonstrating solutions that can strengthen agricultural productivity and improve long-term sustainability.
The tour will span several parishes, including Manchester, St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny, St Ann, and Westmoreland, with special focus being placed on female farmers in recognition of 2026 as the Year of the Female Farmer.
Selected farmers will receive direct assistance through free farm assessments, gravity-fed irrigation systems, seedling trays, growing media and fertilisers, germination mixes and starter agricultural inputs.
Participating farms will also serve as live demonstration sites, giving surrounding farmers and stakeholders the opportunity to see proven, practical solutions in action within real farming environments.
Isratech says the initiative is intended not only to support recovery efforts, but also to encourage a stronger national approach to climate resilience in agriculture.
A partner representative added that the initiative reflects the power of collaboration in addressing some of the sector’s most urgent challenges.
The official launch is expected to bring together key stakeholders, partners, and members of the agricultural community in a shared commitment to restoring livelihoods and strengthening Jamaica’s food production systems.
Corporate entities and development partners are also being invited to support the initiative through product donations, technical expertise, and direct participation.
Farmers across Jamaica are being encouraged to apply for the opportunity to be included in the tour and receive direct support.