FAO Representation

FAO in Jamaica

Jamaica has been a member of FAO since 1963, and a FAO Representative has been stationed in Kingston since 1979. Later that same year the FAO Representation in Jamaica was also accredited to the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. In December 1994 the mandate of the Representation was broadened to include the Government of Belize.

All three countries have a range of natural resources which can be managed to provide income from agricultural production and eco-tourism. Jamaica and the Bahamas share the unique problems of Small Island Developing States, or SIDS, and are increasingly threatened by natural disasters and sudden changes in meteorological and economic climates.

Additionally all three have felt the impact of recent geopolitical and economic changes. The growth of blocs such as the North American Free Trade Area and the recent signing of the EPA has deprived them of leverage in the marketing of products such as sugar, coffee, and bananas, while leaving them vulnerable to global recession.

The 2008 financial meltdown in the US seems to have aggravated the food crisis that is gripping all three countries.

The mandate of FAO in all three countries is to support national efforts to promote food security and sustainable development. Recently, FAO has begun to work more closely with other Ministries besides Agriculture, Health and Education, as the focus move not only towards addressing food security but also nutrition. Its beneficiaries have also expanded to include urban and peri-urban populations.

The Organization discharges its many functions through the offering of technical assistance in the form of project requests made by or through the Governments.