JAMAICA | JAS head calls for reorganization of PC Banks to provide for agricultural funding

KINGSTON, Jamaica March 30, 2024 -  President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Mr. Lenworth Fulton, has raised pressing concerns regarding the significant challenges Jamaican farmers have faced in accessing financial assistance, a persistent obstacle that has hampered the agricultural sector for over four decades. 

The core of this issue lies with the People's Co-operative (PC) Bank, which, according to Fulton, has been "emasculated," leaving a void as no other financial institutions show interest in providing agricultural loans. 

This lack of support has been a critical barrier to progress, impeding the growth and sustainability of the sector.

Fulton calls for an urgent reorganization of the PC Bank's operational strategies, suggesting it seeks capital through the stock market and bond placements in collaboration with entities like the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), specifically targeting agricultural production on agro-parks. 

Such moves are seen as essential to revitalizing not just the PC Bank but the agricultural sector's financial landscape at large. 

Furthermore, Fulton advocates for each subsector, such as citrus, banana, mango, cattle, and small ruminant farming, to collaborate with any financial house willing to prepare proposals for private funding. 

This approach aims to rejuvenate these crucial subsectors and ensure their sustainability and growth.

Beyond the immediate financial constraints, the challenges in Jamaican agriculture span a variety of areas, including the failure of orchard crops, cooperatives, storage, distribution, and overall funding mechanisms. 

Despite these hurdles, the importance of agriculture for the nation's food security, which extends to feeding the burgeoning tourist population, cannot be overstated. 

Fulton highlighted the paradox of the 2021/22 season, where domestic crops showed promising success with the production of approximately 800,000 tons of food, alongside adequate supplies of broiler meat, eggs, and pork. 

However, this level of production remains unsupported by the necessary financial backing, adequate storage facilities, and modern marketing and distribution channels, underlining the critical gaps within the sector.

Amidst these challenges, the ALEX marketing platform emerges as a beacon of innovation and success. 

A joint effort between the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Tourism Enhancement Fund, ALEX has facilitated over J$100M in food sales from farmers, predominantly to the hotel sector, since the beginning of 2024. 

This initiative not only exemplifies a viable solution to modern marketing and distribution challenges but also showcases the potential for collaborative efforts to yield significant benefits for Jamaica's agricultural sector.

However, the road to revitalization is fraught with exploitation by middlemen and recognized purveyors, who take advantage of farmers reluctant to engage with organizations like the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), cooperatives, or the mother farm concept. Fulton underscores the need for a concerted effort to encourage farmers to join progressive organizations, through which they could receive training in various areas of agriculture. 

This training should not merely serve as a veil for agricultural input suppliers to sell their products but should genuinely address critical areas such as environmental awareness and farmers' welfare.

The juxtaposition of success and failure in Jamaica's agriculture underscores a broader narrative of resilience amidst adversity. The sector's potential is evident in the successes of domestic crop production and innovative marketing platforms like ALEX. 

Yet, the access to financial assistance, whether through loans or grants, remains a formidable obstacle, mirroring the challenges faced by the PC BANK and the disinterest from other financial houses in agricultural loans.

Jamaica’s future in Agriculture: A call for action

As we look to the future, Fulton advocates for a multi-faceted approach to addressing these challenges. This includes not only a restructuring of financial support mechanisms but also an emphasis on better project management funded by the government and donors, employing individuals with the necessary skill sets over cronies. 

Projects like the Essex Valley Irrigation system, though well-intentioned, have suffered from prolonged implementation periods, depriving farmers of increased productivity and rural communities of much-needed employment. 

Fulton's call to action is clear: Jamaica must not only reevaluate its financial structures but also foster a culture of professionalism and accountability within its agricultural projects to ensure the sector's long-term sustainability and success.

In light of the significant challenges facing Jamaican agriculture, from financial accessibility to storage and distribution inadequacies, it's evident that a concerted, multi-dimensional approach is required to ensure the sector's resilience and productivity. The emphasis on dedicated storage facilities cannot be overstated, especially for products like coffee, which suffers from post-harvest loss due to inadequate storage options. 

Furthermore, the case of onion farmers, who faced significant post-harvest losses in 2023, underscores the urgency for the government to identify and provide necessary storage solutions for priority crops.

The narrative of Jamaican agriculture, marked by both its triumphs and trials, serves as a testament to the sector's critical role in the nation's economic stability and food security. Fulton's appeal for a unified effort towards rectifying the systemic issues plaguing the sector resonates with the need for sustainable agricultural practices, financial innovation, and infrastructural support. 

This call to action extends beyond the corridors of financial institutions to the very heart of Jamaican society, advocating for a collective embrace of agricultural advancement and environmental stewardship.

As we move forward, the story of Jamaican agriculture stands at a pivotal crossroads. The path chosen will not only determine the sector's viability but also the nation's ability to achieve self-sufficiency and sustainable development. 

The vision outlined by Mr. Lenworth Fulton, rooted in collaboration, innovation, and strategic reform, offers a roadmap toward a prosperous agricultural future. In embracing this vision, Jamaica can navigate the challenges of today and sow the seeds of tomorrow's success, ensuring that agriculture remains a cornerstone of national progress and prosperity.