2013年-世界发展银行全球_Agricultural_Support_Policies_and_Programs_in_Jamaica_2006-2011_72页_2mb

Summary of Agricultural Support Policies and Programs in Jamaica (2006-2011)

Core Content

This report provides an analysis of agricultural support policies and programs in Jamaica from 2006 to 2011, using the OECD methodology. It highlights the structure, evolution, and implications of these supports on the competitiveness and efficiency of the agriculture sector.

Main Points

• Support Structure: Agricultural support in Jamaica is primarily financed by consumers through higher food prices, with a significant portion also coming from taxpayers via budgetary payments and tax concessions.
• Producer Support Estimate (PSE): In 2011, Jamaican consumers transferred US$476 million to the agriculture sector through excess prices. Over 38% of farmers' gross agricultural income is supported by these transfers.
• Total Support Estimate (TSE): The total support to the agriculture sector in 2011 was US$675 million, representing 4.7% of Jamaica's GDP and 22.7% of agricultural GDP.
• General Services Support Estimate (GSSE): GSSE in Jamaica was US$24.7 million in 2011, or 6% of total support, which is significantly lower than in other countries like the USA (75,476 million) and Mexico (849 million).
• Sectoral Composition: Agricultural production is highly concentrated in a few products such as oranges, poultry, and yam, which together account for 43% of total agricultural value production (TVP). The sugar industry, though representing 6% of TVP, has a substantial economic impact due to employment.
• Competitiveness Issues: Jamaica's agriculture sector is vulnerable due to low productivity, high costs of doing business, and a narrow productive structure. It is a net importer of agricultural products, with food imports reaching US$938 million in 2011, over four times its food exports.
• Policy Implications: The report suggests that reforms should focus on investing in public goods and services rather than direct subsidies to private actors, as this leads to better socio-economic returns and increased competitiveness.
• Fiscal Constraints: The Jamaican government's reliance on tax concessions for agricultural support has been a key feature, but recent IMF programs have reduced these incentives, leading to a decline in support levels.

Key Information

• Consumer Support Estimate (CSE): In 2006-2011, consumer support was the main source of agricultural funding, with 77% coming from Market Price Support (MPS).
• Land Holding Trends: There was a 20% decrease in agricultural land area between 1996 and 2007, with a significant increase in the number of small-scale producers and a decline in large-scale ones.
• Labor Productivity: Agricultural labor productivity remains low, with J$122 per worker in 2005-2009 compared to J$2,972 in the finance sector.
• FDI in Agriculture: Foreign Direct Investment in agriculture was less than 4% of total FDI in 2009 and 2010, lower than in Brazil (10%).
• Economic Context: Jamaica's economy is highly open, with 84% of GDP derived from external trade. However, it faces challenges such as high inflation, external debt, and low economic growth.
• Natural Disasters: These have had a major impact on agricultural production, contributing to instability and lower growth rates.
• Policy Recommendations: The report recommends that the Jamaican government focus on improving public goods and services, such as research, infrastructure, and trade facilitation, to enhance the sector's long-term competitiveness and efficiency.

Conclusion

The current support structure for agriculture in Jamaica is inefficient and inequitable, disproportionately affecting low-income consumers. While the level of support has decreased slightly over the period, it remains relatively high compared to other OECD and LAC countries. The report emphasizes the need for structural reforms that prioritize investment in public goods and services over direct subsidies, to improve the long-term performance of the agriculture sector.