The agriculture and fisheries minister, Floyd Green, says the government has begun implementing a $149 million drought-mitigation programme to help farmers sustain recent production gains while preparing for increasingly dry conditions across the island.

Green made the announcement on Thursday at the launch of the 72nd Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show at the Hi-Pro Complex in White Marl, St Catherine.

Pointing to the sector’s recovery after Hurricane Melissa and other weather-related shocks, Green highlighted a 12 per cent increase in vegetable production in the first quarter, alongside an 18 per cent rise in potato yields. Irish potato output, he noted, rose by 66 per cent over the same period.