As Jamaica's ginger sector continues to address challenges associated with disease and access to clean planting material, more than 170 farmers, nursery operators, researchers and plant protection specialists have been trained in sustainable production and seed propagation techniques through a series of workshops led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA).

The training series, which concluded last month, was implemented under FAO's One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, which supports the sustainable development of Special Agricultural Products (SAPs). In Jamaica, ginger has been identified as the priority crop, with activities focused on strengthening production systems, improving access to quality planting material and supporting a more resilient value chain.

Participants from Clarendon, Hanover, Manchester St Ann, St Elizabeth, St Thomas, and Trelawny took part in sustainable ginger production training, while specialised sessions targeted farmers, nursery operators, researchers and plant protection specialists through ginger seed production and nursery management training in St Catherine.