Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries says that, under the ministry's Production Incentive Programme (PIP), the nation is expected to reap 3,000 tons of hot peppers for the 2020/21 crop year.
Parish Agriculture Manager for St Elizabeth at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Nathan Samuels, said approximately $60 million has been budgeted to increase production of hot peppers.
The ministry stated that a total of 650 farmers are engaged in the growing of hot peppers across the island. According to the ministry, most of the farmers are from the parishes of Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Manchester, St Thomas, St Ann and St Mary.
Under the $1.6-billion Production Incentive Programme, other crops such as ginger, dasheen, Irish potatoes, onion, sweet yam, strawberry and cassava are targeted for development. The ministry said over 4,000 farmers are expected to benefit from the programme, directly and indirectly.
Source: jamaicaobserver.com