Gov’t launches first-ever Agriculture Deal Book to attract investors
Published:Monday | September 22, 2025 | 12:05 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
Jamaica’s agriculture sector now has its first structure investment guide following Friday’s launch of the Agriculture Deal Book, which was unveiled at the inaugural Jamaica Agri-business Investment Forum at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, in St James.
Agriculture Minister Floyd Green said prospective investors into Jamaica’s agriculture sector now have a structured investment guide in the form of the Agriculture Deal Book, which he described as a game-changer for attracting capital into agriculture.
The publication, prepared by the Agri-Invest Corporation in partnership with the World Bank and other international partners, outlines investment-ready opportunities across crops, livestock, fisheries and agro-processing. It also provides critical details, such as available lands, estimated returns, and support services to help investors navigate the sector.
“We wanted to provide a practical guide that shows structured, investment-ready opportunities in an easy-to-reach way,” said Green, in his address to attendees at the forum, which had the Jamaica Social Investment Fund is the major sponsor.
“This is about marrying capital with opportunity, and ensuring investors can clearly see how profitable agriculture can be,” added Green.
According to Green, these are several investment-ready projects which provide opportunities for local and international investors to consider taking on.
Green highlighted the Southern Plains Agro Park, in St Catherine and Clarendon, which is supported by a new retention pond to provide irrigation; the Essex Valley Agro Park in St Elizabeth, Jamaica’s largest irrigation project to date; and the Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme, which will bring 4,000 hectares of highly productive land under irrigation.
According to Green, the deal book also highlight opportunities in goat farming, dairy, fisheries and aquaculture, including shrimp, tilapia, red snapper, oysters and sea moss.
Shift perceptions
Green also stressed that the deal book is intended to shift perceptions of agriculture from a fallback profession to a wealth-generating enterprise.
“Some of Jamaica’s largest companies are agriculture-based, and globally, the biggest businesses are rooted in agriculture and fisheries,” said Green. “We are changing the conversation, agriculture is where wealth can be created.”
Green also noted that the deal book will serve as a reference point for investors attending future events, in confirming that the Agri-Business Investment Forum will be staged every two years, which means the next staging will be 2027.
“This is not a one-off. We will continue to use the forum and the deal book to position Jamaica’s agriculture as a top investment destination,” said Green, in speaking to the future of the Jamaica Agri-Business Investment Forum, which was staged under the theme, ‘Sustainable Agri-Business: Global Reach, Local Impact’, this year.
The Agi-Business Investment Forum was staged as part of the effort to accelerate the transformation of Jamaica’s agricultural sector, by bringing together stakeholders and partners from across the agricultural value chain and key linkage industries to showcase opportunities and strengthen investment.