The Food and Nutrition Security Policy is a national policy developed by the Government of Jamaica in order to (i) address the areas of production, consumption and storage; (ii) provide coherence and coordination to the work of the Ministries and State Agencies and the NGOs and private sector entities that operate in these areas; (iii) not subvert the existing markets and the private sector; and (iv) ensure sustainability of the programmes and activities designed and effected. To this end, the long-term goal of the Policy is to achieve sustainable food and nutrition security and eliminate all forms of malnutrition, by ensuring the full protection and realization of the right to food for all Jamaicans and residents of Jamaica, in order to have a well-nourished and healthy population that can fulfill its aspirations to good health and economic well-being and effectively contribute to national economic development.
The Policy mainly focuses on addressing food and nutrition security in Jamaica. It aims to ensure that a sufficient quantity of nutritious food of appropriate quality is available to all people in Jamaica, through increased domestic production and a sustainable level of imports (Food Availability); ensure that all individuals in Jamaica have access to adequate resources to acquire appropriate foods for a nutritious diet (Food Access); ensure that all individuals in Jamaica reach a state of nutritional well-being through food choices and consumption that reflect recommended dietary Allowances (Food Utilization); and ensure that all people in Jamaica have access to adequate, safe and nutritious food at all times, are not at risk of losing access to it due to shocks, and consume and utilize food products that reflect physiological needs (Stability of Food Supply). To this end, the Policy will serve as a tool to guide the formulation and implementation of activities and programmes in order to: increase household food production and trading; improve income generation and job creation opportunities; improve nutrition and food safety; increase safety nets and food emergency management systems; improve analysis and information management system; provide capacity building; and facilitate stakeholder dialogue.
The instrument seeks to create an enabling environment to facilitate increased production and productivity in the agricultural food production sector. It supports the development of sustainable land, water, forest and fishery management systems to address shortages and excessive rainfall and protect the natural resource base in the face of climate change. Efforts will also be made to promote and disseminate good agricultural practices to producers, to attract and retain the youth in agriculture; to develop comprehensive agricultural insurance and risk transfer scheme; and to support and encourage sustainable fisheries practices.
Further the Policy seeks to improve rural livelihoods, especially those of small producers, agricultural labourers and marginalized urban dwellers, through the promotion of entrepreneurship, home food production and programmes to pay for environmental services. Micro-credit and carbon credit schemes to encourage diversification of economic activity in rural and peri-urban areas will be promoted. In addition, action will be taken to strengthen the linkages between agriculture and food crop post-harvest handling, food processing and preparation as well as with other alternative livelihood activities, employment opportunities and incentives for farmers, to broaden the household income base.
The instrument also promotes the formation of and support to producer organizations to assist in the collective marketing of agricultural produce; and the strengthening of communications network among agencies, organizations and associations involved in agricultural marketing by integrating policies, practices and programmes. Special attention is given to young farmers.
Special attention is given to the implementation of adaptation and resilience building strategies as a means of enhancing the stability of food security. In particular, the Policy pursues climate resilient development which focuses on adaptation as well as mitigation strategies for the food and agriculture sector; and integrates climate management considerations into the National Agricultural Disaster Risk Management Programme as well as into programmes to develop farm management and build industry and farming community capacities to increase resilience.
Reference is made to various government institutions with responsibility for food and nutrition security in Jamaica. The institutional framework for food and nutrition security cuts across seven core ministries, supporting ministries and other key public entities. The Policy details the responsibility of each ministry in respect of the four elements of food and nutrition security: food availability, food access, food utilization, and stability of food supply.
This website is supported by and contributing to the InforMEA Project which is funded by the European Union
© United Nations Environment Programme