Agro Processing Strategy

20i n d u s t r y sec t o r strategyOpportunities• Proximity to main export market(USA).• Strong demand for Jamaicanproducts, which is increasing insome markets.• Research and Developmentsupport is available.• Plant layout and design supportavailable.• Access to product knowledge.• Training programmes areavailable.• Climate and soil quality conduciveto growing certain crops.• Environmental positioning basedon products and processes/systems.• Growth in potential linkageindustries – such as wellness.• Tourism market growth - capacity.Threats• Increasing theft in the industry.• Lack of a clear Agricultural Policy.• Continued increase in labour costswithout corresponding productivityimprovements.• Low growth in the domesticmarket.• Low levels of investment in thesector.• Increasing security costs.• Continued urban migrationreducing the labour force for thesector.• Poor perception of agriculture as aviable economic sector.• Inadequate (poor) transportationimpacting on product qualityarriving to processors.• Weather conditions impact rawmaterial (ingredient) supply.• Increasing numbers of internationaland local environmentalregulations.• Exports of Jamaican “knock-offs”.• Violation of geographic indicatorsby foreign manufactured products.• New product development incompeting countries.• Multiple occurrences of productsarriving without proper labelling,