J$20M insurance payouts coming for Jamaican farmers after Hurricane Melissa

One hundred and sixteen Jamaican banana and plantain farmers registered under the Catastrophe Insurance Fund will receive insurance payouts from the Banana Board, disbursed through the Banana Board to registered claimants.

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According to Board General Manager Janet Conie, J$20 million will be distributed to affected farmers following disaster damage assessments. The claims team has already started notifying farmers as part of the payout rollout, which aims to conclude within one month. Conie emphasised the urgency of recovery, explaining that quick field resuscitation is key to avoiding long-term production loss.

A major part of that process is “chopping back,” an industry term for clearing damaged mats and roots to restart fertilisation.

Conie noted that some farmers were back in the fields just two days after the storm, with committee representatives recently reporting that approximately 50 per cent of insured fields had already been chopped back. Once claims are disbursed, beneficiaries will gain fertiliser access—considered by the board to be the most critical recovery input. If applied within six weeks (but no later than six weeks after storm impact), farmers could see a fresh crop cycle and reap within seven months.

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on October 28 as a Category Five system, delivering sustained winds over 260 km/h. The storm has hit hard across the island’s agricultural belt, affecting more than 70,000 farmers and interrupting farm operations spanning 41,390 hectares. Agriculture Minister Floyd Green told the House of Representatives on November 11 that total agricultural losses could reach an estimated $29.5 billion.

Minister Green reported that 2,450 hectares of banana and plantain crops sustained an estimated $2.9 billion in losses, impacting 2,760 farmers. Meanwhile, 32,400 hectares of vegetables were also destroyed—sweet pepper, tomato, lettuce, cabbage, carrot, and vine crops like melon and cantaloupe were among the worst affected lines, causing roughly $8.8 billion in damage.

The hurricane has also devastated Jamaica’s livestock and fisheries industries. The poultry sector lost 458,000 layer birds—more than half of the national laying flock—along with 780,000 broilers. Officials estimate poultry industry losses at $2 billion. The fisheries sector recorded structural damage across 148 assessed beaches, with estimated losses close to $2.74 billion.

Other livestock impacts include the loss of 3,560 small ruminants, 5,600 pigs, and 2,850 cattle. Combined livestock losses could total $3.1 billion.

Conie reiterated that storm recovery training is part of the board’s year-round role, ensuring that insured farmers are prepared to replant and rebound quickly from major windstorm damage.

For technical support and claims guidance, the Banana Board is encouraging banana and plantain growers to contact its support line.