Jamaica Rebuilds After Hurricane: Egg & Pork Industry Gets $1B Boost

Hurricane Melissa inflicted significant damage on Jamaica's egg industry, destroying layer houses and drastically reducing output, though large broiler farms remained largely intact. Livestock farming, including pigs, also faced widespread disruption in the hardest-hit areas. In response, CB Group has initiated a substantial investment of nearly $1 billion. This capital infusion is earmarked for establishing new infrastructure and expanding its recruitment drive to bring new growers into modern, climate-controlled production methods.

The company's strategy centers on expanding contract farming within an integrated model. Through its 'The Time Is Now' campaign, CB Group is actively seeking landowners and entrepreneurs to invest in and operate advanced, climate-smart facilities. These new operations will feature tunnel-ventilated systems designed for resilience against extreme weather, improved efficiency, and increased output. Upcoming projects include a 40,000-layer egg farm and a 640-sow breeding facility, with downstream infrastructure like an egg-packaging and liquid egg-processing plant also planned.

This strategic rebuilding mirrors the transformation of Jamaica's broiler industry following Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, which led to the adoption of modern housing and a quadrupling of industry output. CB Group sees Hurricane Melissa as a comparable opportunity to reset and modernize the egg and pork sectors. The company emphasizes that this expansion is intended to bolster national production and economic activity, ultimately reducing Jamaica's dependence on imported proteins and strengthening its agricultural sector for the long term.