World champion Seville joins $21m push to revive Jamaica's farming sector

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Nov 17, 2025 12:07 PM | Agriculture
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(from left) Kerry-Lee Lynch, Officer in Charge, United Way of Jamaica (UWJ), The Honourable Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining; Oblique Seville, IAAF 100-metre World Champion; Deleen Powell, Manager of Public Affairs, Director of Scotia Foundation; and Dr. Devon Smith, Board Chair, United Way of Jamaica.

In a major response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) has launched a $21-million restoration fund, with a surprise donation of $500,000 from world-class sprinter Oblique Seville.

The initiative, formally called the Restoration and Rehabilitation Fund, was unveiled at a press conference on Tuesday and will be coordinated through the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS). The fund aims to help thousands of farmers and fishers across five parishes get back on their feet.

UWJ Board Chairman, Dr. Devon Smith, announced that the fund is seeded with an initial JM$1.5 million from the UWJ and a further US$135,000 (approximately JM$21 million) from United Way Worldwide.

“This mobilisation is targeted to private and public sector entities to partner with us,” Dr. Smith said at the event, held at the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica headquarters. He described the effort as “solidarity in action” to restore livelihoods and safeguard Jamaica’s food security.

The star-powered boost came from athlete Oblique Seville, who shared a personal connection to the cause. “Agriculture is what made me,” Seville, the reigning world 100m men’s champion, stated. “My late father was a RADA Field Officer and my mother is still a farmer. When I saw the devastation, I wanted to do my part.”

The fund will provide critical resources including equipment, livestock feed, fertiliser, and planting supplies. It will also support the rebuilding of infrastructure for homes, schools, greenhouses, and churches, and offer small grants to farmers for immediate recovery.

Fisheries Sector "Tremendously" Damaged

The government underscored the severity of the crisis. The Honourable Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, revealed that Hurricane Melissa’s impact is more wide-ranging than Hurricane Beryl’s in 2024, affecting at least 70,000 farmers.

He issued a particular call for help for the fishing industry, reporting “tremendous” damage. “Over 148 beaches have been assessed and at least 3,000 boats, which is half of our fishing fleet, were completely destroyed,” Minister Green said. “The quicker we can stand up for our agriculture and fisheries sectors, the quicker we can stand up Jamaica.”

Minister Green praised the UWJ’s coordinated approach, noting it prevents duplication of efforts and complements the government’s work.

The fund has also garnered support from major corporate entities, including the Seprod Foundation, Musson Foundation, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Nestle, and the Scotia Group, among others.