KINGSTON, Jamaica - Farm Up Jamaica, a bold and innovative agricultural private-sector programme designed to significantly boost the organic production of selected crops in Jamaica was launched last Thursday evening at the Kimberly Hotel in New York City.
Farm Up Jamaica is the brainchild of New York-based businessman and entrepreneur Neil Curtis. The initiative aims to assist farmers in Jamaica to grow more targeted organic crops to reduce the importation of some produce and to increase the export of others with the long-term objectives of stabilising the Jamaican dollar and generating employment.
The programme was launched with strong support from community leaders in New York, even with the awareness that there will be challenges such as praedial larceny and consistency of supply. But despite the possible hurdles, several attendees made it clear that this outreach is critical to the survival and stability of the Jamaican dollar.