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Sweet Potato
Supply Availability
Sweet Potato is available all year round and cultivated islandwide, and the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Clarendon and St. Ann are the major producers.
Sweet Potato Varieties
The Uplifter, Quarter Million, Eustace, Big Red, Clarendon, Blue Bud and Dor are the most popular varieties in Jamaica. The Beauregard variety was imported in Jamaica to boost production mainly for the export market.
Area Reaped and Yield per Hectare
The total area reaped for sweet potato islandwide in 2021 increased by approximately 20% to 3,308 hectares moving from 2,752 in 2016. Also, in 2021, the average yield per hectare decreased slightly to 17.37 MT, in 2021 from 17.44 MT in 2016.
Why Invest in Sweet Potato Production
- High rate of return on investment, and moderate level of risks
- Increasing demand
- GOJ incentive programme, e.g, duty concessions on farm related equipment and farm vehicles
- GOJ assistance with access to farm lands
- High demand in both local and export market
- It is adaptable to Jamaica’s ecology
- Great foreign exchange earner
- Agro processing opportunities
- Easy access to plant material
- Versatile for culinary practices
Value Added
- Gluten-free flour
- Dried Chips
- Juice/Smoothie
- Pancake Mixes
Yellow Yam
Production
Yellow yam is the most produced yam variety in Jamaica, averaging 75% of total yam production annually from 2015-2021 (MOAF). It is cultivated islandwide, however, Trelawny and St. Ann are the major producers. Trelawny is Jamaica’s third largest supplier of domestic agricultural production with 9,956 registered farmers. Eighty per cent (80%) of agricultural production in Trelawny consists of yams, sold both domestically and internationally in large volumes, fuelling Jamaica’s global export dominance with an ownership of 22.2% of the export market (FAOSTAT, 2021) .
Consumption
The local consumption of yam from 2015—2021 has continuously been significantly greater than the exportation of the crop. Since 2017 there has been a continuous increase in both the exportation of yam and in its production (See Table 1).
Why Invest In Yellow Yam Production
- GOJ incentive programme, e.g, duty concessions on farm related equipment and farm vehicles
- GOJ assistance with access to farm lands
- High demand in both local and export market
- Great foreign exchange earner
- Yellow yam contributes to over 70% of total yam exports between 2015 and 2020.
Health Benefits
The following are some of the benefits associated with the consumption of yellow yam:
- Good for heart rate control and blood pressure
- Reduces the risk of colon cancer
- Boosts immune system
- Associated with neuron growth and enhanced brain functions
- Facilitates hair growth
Products of Yellow Yam
- Yellow Yam Fries
- Yellow Yam Salad
- Yam Flour
- Yam Wine
- Yam Cup Cake
- Yellow Yam Sweet Bread
Turmeric
Local Market
In addition to local turmeric production, 1.6 billion kg (valuing J$CIF 500 million) was imported during 2016-2021. This represents an opportunity for import substitution. There is a sizeable need for facilities which are able to dry and convert the turmeric into a powdered form, allowing easier use. The table below represents the quantity and value of imports.
Market Demand
- Local market conditions for turmeric are excellent with two main markets showing robust and increasing demand for local turmeric:
- Export market (in green form) and,
- local spice and beverage manufacturers (in dried fingers form).
- There are several primary processors able to transform green to dried fingers on the island or if you are interested in investing in primary processing, information is available.
- For the period 2017 to 2021, Jamaica imported an annual average quantity of 310.81 MT, ranging from a high of 358.67 MT in 2017 to a low of 275.64 MT in 2021, signaling a decline.
- Currently, Jamaica earns an annual average of $ 232,677,812.1 from export of turmeric for the period 2017 to 2022, which represents 40% of total international demand.
Goat Milk
Benefits of Goat Milk Consumption:
- Higher nutritional content than cow’s milk
- Source of minerals for daily consumption by humans
- Anti-inflammatory properties that aid in gut health
- Promotes skin health
Cost of live dairy goats
Average cost of a mature ram ranges between $90,000 to $120,000 and doe from $60,000 to $80,000. Graded goat (mix of Boer and Nubian) are more affordable.
Initial investment
A typical housing unit for 100 heads of goats is expected to cost $5,757,405,95 for chevron production (AIC, 2019). It is expected to cost a similar amount for a dairy goat house; but more partitions are needed to separate kids from mothers to promote increased milk production.
Opportunities - Why Dairy Goat Enterprise?
- As Gross Domestic Product per capita increases, the demand for superior protein such as goat’s milk also increases at premium prices.
- The amount of feed required for a cow can be used to feed 10 goats which collectively will yield twice as much milk per day.
- Start of mobile milking of graded goats on meat-producing farms
- Thriving domestic market with low level of local supplies.
- An existing Small Ruminant Association of Jamaica (SRAJ)
- Good genetic material with no known diseases
Pepper
Local Market Demand
- In 2022, it has been noted that only 45% of agro-processors demands are being met for hot peppers. The main markets for hot peppers are agro-processing for value addition; municipal and retail markets for mostly fresh; and the hospitality sector (restaurants and hotels) for a combination of fresh and value added.
- As of 2024, approximately 53.5 % of total hot pepper sauce produced is consumed locally.