THOUSANDS of Jamaican farmers are being placed on firmer footing through a $50-million protection injection aimed at strengthening the agriculture sector’s ability to withstand extreme weather shocks as the country braces for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season which begins on June 1

The initiative will support 5,000 farmers with access to GK Weather Protect, the parametric insurance solution administered by GK General Insurance (GKGI).

The support comes as Jamaica continues to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last October and as public and private sector stakeholders move to ensure farmers are better protected before the next major weather event.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Floyd Green said the move is part of a deliberate shift from post-disaster response to pre-disaster protection.

“When Hurricane Melissa hit we went to the fields and listened to our farmers. You told us exactly what was broken with traditional insurance,” Green said in a video message announcing the support.

He added that the changing climate requires a different approach to agricultural resilience.

“The hurricane season is gone, but one is coming. So, you have to ensure that you put things in place,” Green urged, as he encouraged farmers not to wait until after disaster strikes to seek protection.

The GK Weather Protect programme is designed to provide automatic payouts once the trigger is met. Payments are made for events such as excess rainfall, drought, or high-wind conditions. Unlike traditional insurance models, parametric coverage does not require farmers to wait for individual loss assessments before claims are processed.

Green said that speed is critical for farmers, particularly after hurricanes, when quick access to cash can determine whether they can replant, repair, restock, or resume production.

“We are putting in place an insurance that you can insure for the entire year… don’t wait until the disaster is gone,” he said.

Client and partner services manager at GKGI Orette Duncan noted that, based on the team’s in-depth conversations with the farmers, the policy has been revised to better suit their conditions.

“One of the things you get to see up close and personal is how the faster payments impact the turnaround time for farmers and how quickly they can move from despair to decision-making. Having listened to their concerns and watching how Caribbean weather is being impacted with stronger systems and the economic realities they face, this upgrade to GK Weather Protect is a more robust policy that specifically targets farmers to help them recover faster,” said Duncan.

He pointed out that GK Weather Protect was created to address the realities faced by farmers, many of whom operate in communities most exposed to excess rainfall, drought, and hurricane-force winds.

“Whether it is through parametric insurance that triggers quick payouts after a storm, or tailored coverage that understands the unique risks of rural production, we are committed to ensuring that a bad season does not mean a closed business,” added Duncan.

Managing director of GK General Insurance Tammara Glaves Hucey said the partnership reflects a broader commitment to building climate resilience in Jamaica’s farming communities.

“For farmers, recovery cannot begin months after a storm, it must begin as quickly as possible, because every lost day affects income, food supply, and the wider economy,” Glaves Hucey said.

She underscored that the experience of Hurricane Melissa has made early preparation even more urgent.

“Melissa reminded us that farmers are not only producers, they are protectors of Jamaica’s food security. Supporting 5,000 farmers ahead of the hurricane season is not just an insurance intervention, it is an investment in livelihoods, communities and national resilience,” she said.

Farmers are being encouraged to work through the relevant Rural Agricultural Development Authority and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries channels to access the support and ensure their coverage is in place before the height of the hurricane season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast a below-normal 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, with eight to 14 named storms, three to six hurricanes, and one to three major hurricanes. However, officials have warned that even a quieter season can cause severe damage if a single storm makes landfall.

DUNCAN… faster payments impact the turnaround time for farmers and how quickly they can move from despair to decision-making

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Floyd Green (left), observes the march and presentation of food supplies at the altar by farmers representing various Jamaica Agricultural Society groups during the National Farmers’ Month Church Service and Launch recently.File Photo