ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — The United Kingdom (UK) Government has contributed $7.57 billion towards a new state-of-the-art agro-processing facility and administrative building which was officially opened on Wednesday in Essex Valley, St Elizabeth.

The facility is expected to strengthen Jamaica’s food security, climate resilience and agricultural productivity.

Andrew Bowden, development representative for Jamaica at the British High Commission 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.

Wide shot of a new state-of-the-art agro-processing facility and administrative building in Essex Valley, St Elizabeth.

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

More than 600 farmers have also been trained, including 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-Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) partnership, noting that, “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.”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, “The United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Facility (UKCIF), implemented by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), 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, Division Chief of the Social Sector Division at CDB, Dr Martin Baptiste, underscored the significance of the achievement, stating: “The facility and building that we are opening today are among the successes of the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project (EVADP)— one of the most ambitious and transformational agricultural investments undertaken in Jamaica in recent years. 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.”

A new state-of-the-art agro-processing facility and administrative building in Essex Valley, St Elizabeth.

Funded by the UK Government through the 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.

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

The project has already delivered tangible improvements for farmers and rural communities.

The Essex Valley development includes 810 hectares of irrigated farmland, 62km of improved agricultural roads, new solar power systems that will power the irrigation network and facilities with renewable energy, and food safety and sanitation areas, with 30 dedicated facilities across the valley providing improved compliance with food handling standards.

The new agro-processing 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.