FAO Supports Jamaica’s Hot Pepper Sector with New Equipment to Boost Food Safety and Exports

Jamaica’s hot pepper industry is getting a major boost through the distribution of cutting-edge pest surveillance and monitoring equipment to key stakeholders in the value chain. The equipment handover ceremony, held at the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), is a significant milestone under the ongoing project “Improving Phytosanitary, Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along the Hot Pepper Value Chain in Jamaica.”

Funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) of the World Trade Organization and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the initiative aims to strengthen Jamaica’s capacity to meet international standards, increase exports, and improve food safety across the hot pepper sector. The project is being delivered in close partnership with the Bureau of Standards Jamaica and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining (MOAFM).

Representatives from the donor agency and key national partners participated in the handover event, including Mr. Pablo Jenkins, STDF Representative; Dr. Velton Gooden (Executive Director, BSJ), Ms. Tafara Smith, Director of Standards and Trade, BSJ and Mr. Damian Rowe Acting Chief Plant Quarantine Officer, MOAFM.

Empowering Stakeholders Across the Value Chain

The distributed equipment is designed to address resource gaps identified during a comprehensive sector-wide assessment. Hot pepper farmers will receive tools such as magnifying glasses, pH and EC meters, and sticky traps to enhance pest detection and improve on-farm management practices. The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is being equipped with similar surveillance tools to bolster extension services in key pepper-growing parishes. The Plant Quarantine and Produce Inspection Branch (PQPIB) will receive diagnostic and inspection tools including tablets and GPS units to support field-level monitoring and traceability efforts.

Strengthening a High-Value Industry

Hot pepper is one of Jamaica’s most iconic agricultural products, central to the global appeal of jerk cuisine. Jamaican Scotch Bonnet and West Indian Red peppers are highly sought after in international markets, but local production has long been challenged by climate variability, pest outbreaks and inconsistent supply. Between 2012 and 2021, local production increased by 39%, and pepper export revenues rose from USD $1.5 million to $2.68 million. Yet, compared to the global hot pepper market valued at USD $4.1 billion, Jamaica’s export potential remains vastly untapped.

The current project aims to address key barriers to scale by improving technical capacities, enforcing international phytosanitary and food safety standards, and promoting sustainable, resilient farming practices. Its three core objectives are:

• Enhancing institutional capacity for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) management and the distribution of certified planting material;

• Boosting compliance with food safety systems for market access;

• Strengthening climate resilience and productivity across the pepper production chain.

Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Growth

The initiative prioritizes support for small-scale food producers, especially women and family farmers, to ensure equitable growth in the sector. By aligning production with international quality standards, the project seeks to position Jamaica as a leading exporter of premium-grade peppers and value-added products.

This handover signals a shared commitment by national and international partners to modernize the hot pepper industry and unlock greater opportunities for farmer, processors, and exporters.