Denton Alvaranga, Member of Morant & Croft’s Hill Farmers Group Project in North Central Clarendon, says a dry spell in the area is threatening food security.
Speaking at the European Union Delegation to Jamaica Panel Discussion, Alvaranga noted that lack of rainfall has a devastating impact on agriculture.
Denton Alvaranga, Morant & Croft’s Hill Farmers Group Member.
Alvaranga says while Jamaica has food security in vegetables, fruits, and roots and tubers, it depends largely on imports to provide legumes and cereals like corn, wheat, and rice.
The country’s annual food import bill is around US-one-billion-dollars.
CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust, Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie is suggesting that Jamaica protects its agricultural lands as countries are prioritising feeding their own population before exporting.
Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust.
The panellists were speaking under the theme, “Towards a culture of Climate Resilience for Sustainable Development.”