United Nations Jamaica 76th Anniversary

Ginger Farmer in Mt Pelier, Jamaica. Credit: FAO-Chrishane Williams Growing Jamaica’s Spice Rack using Public-Private Partnerships Good old Ginger Jamaican ginger has a long renowned name on the international markets due to its pungency and potency. Yet, for years the market suffered from low production caused by the impacts of the Ginger Rhizome Rot Disease. The disease spread across the island and led to decreased yields, farmers pulling out of ginger production due to increased risks and inevitably huge financial losses. Over the past four years, FAO has provided consistent and strong technical support to the Government of Jamaica in rebuilding its Ginger Industry by introducing a participatory approach to value chain development. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a litmus test for this highly collaborative and participatory approach and for managing the risks associated with the industry, and today continues to provide promising results. FAO, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities RegulatoryAuthority (JACRA), delivered training in certification protocols, good agricultural practices, business planning, strategic industry planning and other areas over the past years. These trainings have fostered an environment for discussions and increased collaboration between the private and public sector, farmers, plant nursery operators, academia, exporters, processors and scientists and helped in creating a strong Public-Private Partnership (PPP). As a result of this PPP and the application of this participatory approach to value chain development, the country is today on its way to addressing the Ginger Rhizome Rot Disease that plagued the island for decades. Additionally, the first batch of certified disease-free ginger ever produced in the country using tissue culture from public sector nurseries into the hands of six private sector nurseries has now been achieved. From here, farmers involved in the project will be connected to a secure market and be able to consistently produce Dr Crispim Moreira FAO Representative for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize A Bold Vision for Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) places partnerships at the heart of our mission to provide nutritious food, build economies, and contribute to enhanced livelihood opportunities in an environmentally sustainable way. During the UN Food Systems Summit in September, we heard the call for stronger synergies and more strategic partnerships across countries and entities to create more inclusive and resilient food systems that respect people and planet. The COVID-19 pandemic has set us behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and created huge economic setbacks for countries of the Caribbean. Yet, it has challenged us to transform our agricultural food systems and to create more strategic and effective partnerships that can lead to even more sustainable development outcomes. We recognize this UN Day with our UN family bearing these in mind and embracing the theme of Partnerships for Peace, Planet and Prosperity, so that we can action the call from the Summit, recover from the pandemic and propel towards restabilizing the path to the sustainable development agenda. The building of resilient agricultural (agro)-industries is therefore timely. FAO has a bold vision to push for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. By supporting the development of a modern and profitable agriculture sector, cemented by strong partnerships and carrying a focus on building and revitalizing Jamaica’s agro- industries, we can achieve these four betters. FAO proudly reaffirms our commitment to the people and Government of Jamaica in building these industries in a manner that protects the planet and that will lead to prosperity as we work towards recovering from the pandemic. Our work on the ginger sector and the newly formalized turmeric sector is among some of the key agro-industries in this endeavour. CONTINUES ON PAGE 25 THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN JAMAICA 24