IICA awards prize for CARICOM farmer of the year during Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2023

Nassau, The Bahamas, 16 October 2023. Two Jamaican farmers were recognized as CARICOM’s Farmer of the Year and Young Farmer of the Year by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) during the Week of Agriculture 2023, held in The Bahamas.

The awards were presented during the inaugural ceremony of Caribbean agriculture’s most important event, which was attended by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Edward Davis; ministers of agriculture from the countries that make up the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero; and the heads of regional and international organizations, and representatives of academia, the private sector, and NGOs.

IICA sponsored the Farmer of the Year Award – which included a cash prize -and Director General Manuel Otero was on hand to present Peter McConnell of Trade Winds Citrus Limited (TWCL) the honors. McConnell was awarded for his successful Jamaican agricultural enterprise which specializes in citrus, pineapple, sugar cane production and a state-of-the-art dairy farm. TWCL started with the processing Tru-Juice and Fresh juice-based brands, and in 2020 diversified into the dairy industry with the introduction of TruSHAKE, Tru-Milk, Tru-Moo, and Dairy Farmers milk-based brands.

The Youth Farmer of the year 2023 award went to Diandre Rowe, Managing Director at Abbey Garden Farm located in Kingsland Manchester, a third-generation farmer who has been exposed to farming her entire life, and, who decided to step away from a successful corporate tenure to assume responsibility and control over her family’s greenhouse farm. Abbey Garden Farm produces a wide range of herbs and vegetable crops for the local market. 

Speaking after the award ceremony, Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining of Jamaica, stated that, “the clean sweep by Jamaica at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, with our farmers winning both the Youth Farmer of the Year and Farmer of the Year awards, exemplifies the extraordinary potential and commitment of Jamaica's agricultural sector. Diandra Rowe, Managing Director of Abbey Garden Farm, and Peter McConnell of Trade Winds Citrus Ltd have not only made Jamaica proud but have set an inspiring benchmark for the entire Caribbean.”

Green added: “This historic achievement showcases not only the resilience and innovation of our farming community but also underscores Jamaica's leading role in shaping the future of agriculture across the Caribbean. These awards are not just accolades; they are a testament to the dedication of our farmers, the growth of our agricultural industry, and the bright prospects that lie ahead. Jamaica's agriculture is not just about producing food; it's about nurturing the dreams of our youth, sustaining our environment, and driving economic prosperity for our nation.”

IICA’s Director General, Manuel Otero, commented on the award ceremony and expressed his delight that exemplary farmers are being recognized at the highest level in CARICOM, and indicated that “IICA is proud to support this prestigious award. We congratulate Peter McConnell and Diandra Rowe for earning these achievements, and recognize that these model farmers represent an entire community of agriculturalists that IICA honors every day. IICA honors all of our farmers, who are excellent stewards of our environment and critical to our livelihood and nutrition. ”

Otero added that “IICA is a founding member of the CWA, and we pledge our continued support to the CARICOM Secretariat and Member States to ensure that this premier agricultural event on the regional calendar continues to grow and excel year after year.” 

More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int