John Myers Jr, Business Reporter

Jesús Silva, Spanish ambassador to Jamaica, is hoping to entice private investors from Spain to partner with local farmers. - File

The Spanish Government will provide US$2 million (J$144 million) of technical aid to regional countries this year to finance agricultural support programmes. Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva said 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the funds were earmarked for Jamaica. "We are giving assistance in greenhouse and hydroponics and also in fish production because those are where the Spanish agro-industries are more sophisticated and competitive," said Silva.

"You have a very concentrated type of production which makes it very easy to focus on the final demand, so these types of productions have enormous potential and are very competitive ... the hotels for the time being have a very big need for supplies," said the ambassador.

The technical support for regional farmers, which includes training in the areas of packaging and distribution, is to be delivered over a period of about five years.

Ambassador Silva said demonstration points would be set up in Jamaica to facilitate training and transfer of technologies.

The investment in agriculture by Spain coincides with the expanding presence of Spanish hotel chains along the north coast.

Their investments have already topped US$1 billion, with more projects to unfold over a decade.

It's also a positive response to entreaties from the Jamaican Government for home-grown and foreign-owned hotels to buy more produce from local farms.

Supplies not reliable

Jamaican produce represent an approximately 42 per cent of the foods served in the hotels. The ratio is skewed towards imports because, hoteliers say, farmers do not produce in sufficient quantities or consistent quality to meet their needs on an ongoing basis.

"We cannot get reliable supplies in terms of quality and in a timely manner for the needs of the hotels so that's why I believe a high percentage of the supplies is coming from imports," said the Spanish diplomat.

Assistance packages like that now offered by the Spanish and forerunner Sandals Resorts International are meant to address those issues.

The Spanish are looking to take that a step further and entice private investors from Spain.

"We are hoping that considering the opportunities of the market, we might have private investors coming from Spain and willing to do investments in this area because I think there is a potential here," said Silva.

"We have even identified one investor from Spain who would be interested in partnering with Jamaican farmers."

john.myers@gleanerjm.com