By Abdullahi Lukman
More than half of Jamaicans are facing food insecurity, with 28 per cent experiencing severe conditions that include going hungry or spending an entire day without food, according to food security expert Dr Cecil Cornwall.
Cornwall, head of the Western Hospitality Institute, disclosed the figures on Tuesday at the launch of the 10th International Food Security and Sovereignty Conference, highlighting the growing pressure on Jamaica’s food system.
He said about 55 per cent of Jamaicans face uncertainty over access to sufficient food, including having to run out of food or skip meals, while those experiencing severe food insecurity sometimes go without eating for an entire day.
The situation has been compounded by rising food prices, extreme weather and damage to the agricultural sector caused by recent hurricanes.
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that struck Jamaica in October 2025, severely affected agricultural communities, particularly in St Elizabeth, traditionally regarded as the country’s breadbasket. The storm destroyed farms, homes and livelihoods, leaving thousands of people in need of assistance.
Following the disaster, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Jamaican government, provided emergency food assistance to vulnerable communities. Initial distributions reached about 123,000 people across St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny and Westmoreland.
The WFP later introduced a cash assistance programme with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for another 50,000 people severely affected by the hurricane, including households in Hanover.
Jamaica’s agricultural sector had already faced significant climate-related losses before Melissa. Hurricane Beryl, which passed near the island in July 2024, also damaged homes, farms and livelihoods, prompting further humanitarian assistance.
The government is now implementing a US$50 million agriculture and resilience programme aimed at strengthening food production and helping farmers withstand climate-related shocks.
Cornwall’s warning comes amid a broader global food security challenge. The United Nations estimated that about 645 million people, representing 7.8 per cent of the world’s population, experienced hunger in 2025. Although the figure declined from the previous year, UN agencies have warned that progress remains too slow to meet the goal of ending hunger by 2030.
Jamaica’s food security challenges will feature prominently at the 10th International Food Security and Sovereignty Conference, scheduled for September 9 and 10 at Sandals Dunn’s River in Mammee Bay, St Ann.
Organised by the Food Hygiene Bureau, the conference will bring together policymakers, farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs and development partners under the theme, “Building Resilience in Food Systems: Enhancing Food Security and Sovereignty.”
Discussions are expected to focus on sustainable agriculture, food sovereignty and practical measures to strengthen Jamaica’s food system against climate, economic and other disruptions.
