Coffee industry needs urgent recovery support after billions in losses, says Dr Grant
KINGSTON, Jamaica — President of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA), Dr Norman Grant, is calling for urgent investment and mental health support for coffee farmers as Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee industry struggles to recover from devastating weather events and rising production costs.
In a release, Dr Grant said the sector has suffered major setbacks from Hurricanes Beryl (July 3, 2024) and Melissa (October 28, 2025), extreme rainfall and increased costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East, which has driven up fuel and shipping expenses.
According to Grant, Hurricane Melissa alone destroyed nearly 40 per cent of the mature coffee crop during the 2025/2026 season, resulting in the loss of about 100,000 boxes of coffee and an estimated $1 billion in farm-gate losses.
The JCEA noted that coffee production has fallen sharply over the past two years, dropping from 288,000 boxes in the 2023/2024 crop year to an estimated 150,000 boxes in the current season. The decline, it said, represents losses of roughly $1.5 billion for more than 5,000 coffee farmers and is projected to reduce export earnings by approximately US$15 million.
Grant said the repeated losses have placed significant financial and emotional strain on farming communities, underscoring the need for psychosocial support alongside agricultural recovery programmes.
“The industry has demonstrated resilience, but urgent and coordinated action is required to restore production and strengthen recovery efforts,” he said.
The JCEA continues to advocate for key initiatives, including the Coffee Crop Resuscitation and Establishment Programme (CREP), rehabilitation of farm roads and targeted support to rebuild production capacity.
Despite the challenges, Grant noted that Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee remains one of the country’s most valuable agricultural products, supporting thousands of farmers and maintaining a strong reputation in international markets.
He also welcomed ongoing support from the government, the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) and international partners, including funding for farm inputs and donations of coffee seedlings to aid recovery efforts.
