ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the organization with the Food for Progress Jamaica Spices (JaSPICE) Project. As a five-year program, JaSPICE will support Jamaica’s goal of revitalizing the spice sector. The award comes as part of the USDA’s $178 million investment in seven international development projects on four continents to support US government priorities, such as promoting climate-smart agriculture and facilitating trade. JaSPICE will take place under the Food for Progress Program, designed for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service to partner with NGOs and foreign governments on projects in developing countries.
The goal of JaSPICE is to increase Jamaica’s yields of turmeric, ginger, and pimento (allspice) on 2,750 hectares by 50 percent, resulting in $20 million in sales and $13.5 million in annual export sales.
To achieve this, ACDI/VOCA will incorporate market systems strengthening strategies—alongside climate-resilient and nature-positive production practices—to increase the productivity, trade, and environmental resilience of spice crops. While promoting climate-smart production, the project will boost processing and export capacity through a systems-based approach.
JaSPICE will rely on ACDI/VOCA’s established partnerships in the country with public sector stakeholders, anchor firms, micro and small- and medium-sized enterprises, and farmer-based organizations. To create a more diverse and vibrant spice sector, the project will engage 7,500 individuals, including women, youth, and other marginalized populations.
ACDI/VOCA will also engage three resource partners:
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations will leverage its experience supporting the Ginger Working Group and other spice value chain actors to support stakeholder coordination, research and development planning, crop investment profiling, and business modeling.
- At Rutgers University, the Food Incubation Center and Natural Products Laboratory (RFIC) houses horticulture experts in herbs and spices who are skilled in tissue culture production as well as nursery and laboratory development. RFIC will contribute to increased access to quality planting material and strengthened market connections for JaSPICE participants.
- The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) is an international research center dedicated to agriculture and the sustainable use of natural resources in Central America and the Caribbean. CATIE will provide expertise in landscape approaches, climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, and environmental and economic research.
Learn more about our work in Jamaica.
