1. GECAFS/SANREM WORKSHOP June 16-17, 2005 Georgetown, Guyana Ministry of Agriculture Perspectives Jamaica Joseph Lindsay

2. Major Environmental Issues Frequency of hurricanes Storm surges and coastal erosion Unpredictable rainfall Frequency of flooding Frequency of droughts Fires-loss agriculture, bio-diversity Increase incidence of soil salinization Soil erosion and deforestation Threat of the effects of pests/diseases: Viruses, CTV; Lethal Yellowing,

3. Major Environmental Issues Loss of best agricultural lands to housing/infrastructure Reef destruction Loss of mangrove swamps to hotel, ports and roads and pollution

4. Agricultural Strategy 2005-2008 Competitive Agricultural Sector –Ensure national food security –Expansion of agricultural products –Provision of raw materials for agro-industry –Investment of US$500m from Govt. and private sector

5. Linkages Tourism-Agriculture-Linkages -Targeting food production for tourism industry hence market for > 4million Eco-tourism Youth in Agriculture Poverty Alleviation Rural development/Job creation/rural Agro-industrial development

6. Priority Policy Objectives Competitiveness studies Adopting commodity ‘industry approach Reduction in environmental degradation and increased reforestation/agro forestry Improvement in watershed management Fruit/Tree crop development-14 fruit tree crops Organic Farming Good Agricultural Practices Improvement in irrigation

7. Priority Apiculture Aquaculture Small ruminant development Biodiversity/improvement germplasm Agricultural Health and Food Safety/Plant Health Database National Research Coordination Mechanism

8. Jamaican Collaborators Universities: UWI-UWICED, Geography, NCU; CIDA-Forestry:agroforestry/Watershed Planning Institute of Jamaica FAO: Fruit Tree Crops Jamaica Bauxite Institute-mining/degradation land rehabilitation National Council on Science and Technology National Environment and Planning Agency Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management