Minister Jolly with Encouraging Signs for Agriculture and Food Security Push

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Turks and Caicos, May 23, 2025 – The Turks and Caicos Islands is expected to see encouraging signs of progress in agriculture and food security, with Minister of Tourism and Agriculture  Zhavargo Jolly unveiling a series of new initiatives in his 2025/26 Budget presentation aimed at transforming local food systems. From commercial farming zones to youth-led innovation and infrastructure upgrades, the government’s efforts reflect a determined shift toward greater self-sufficiency and economic resilience.

A significant step forward is the formation of the National Agriculture and Food Security Board, now led by Reverend Courtney Missick. The board is charged with guiding the long-term transformation of agriculture across the islands, rooted in the idea that food security is not just about nutrition, but national sovereignty.

Minister Jolly highlighted completion of Phase I of the national Agro-Park Plan, announcing that over 150 acres in North Caicos will be designated as a government-supported commercial farming zone—directly benefiting farmers from his home constituency. A Crown Land request for 50 acres in Providenciales is also underway, with development already in motion including access roads, irrigation lines, and essential infrastructure.

The ministry’s Business in a Box initiative is also expanding, supporting dozens of new farmers with training in hydroponics and poultry, and equipping them with start-up kits and business support services. This program now reaches residents in North Caicos, South Caicos, Providenciales, and Grand Turk—ensuring broad-based access to opportunities in a revitalized agricultural sector.                                                                                                                                                                                       A new Agricultural Online Platform is nearing completion and will allow residents to apply for licenses, permits, and land access via mobile devices—streamlining government services and increasing transparency.                                                                                                                                                                                     Funding has been allocated to further expand hydroponic and shade house farming, improve port infrastructure for trade, and hire a dedicated Biosecurity Officer to help enforce new regulations and manage threats to plant and animal life. The government is also enforcing its Dog Control Ordinance and strengthening customs cooperation to ensure imported food and plant products are safe and compliant.

Youth engagement remains a central feature of the government’s strategy. A community garden has been established at Louise Garland High School to give students hands-on agricultural education, and a new pilot abattoir program at Her Majesty’s Prison is turning food production into a tool for rehabilitation and skills development.

The year’s efforts culminated in the “Farm to Table” event—an encouraging sign of what the future could hold. More than just a culinary showcase, the event was a public celebration of local production, culinary creativity, and national pride.

Premier Charles Washington Misick confirmed that $86.7 million has been allocated for Economic Affairs this year, covering agriculture, infrastructure, tourism product enhancement, and environmental resilience. These investments represent the government’s broader commitment to diversifying the economy and empowering communities through sustainable development.

As Minister Jolly said, agriculture is being reimagined—not just modernized. The encouraging signs of progress reflect a growing belief that the hands of the people of Turks and Caicos can grow not just food, but a stronger, more self-reliant future.