KINGSTON, Jamaica — Six months after Hurricane Melissa devastated small-scale agricultural operations across western Jamaica in October 2025, three collaborative partners have delivered targeted, life-changing support to hundreds of farmers in two hard-hit parishes. Seprod Foundation, working alongside global humanitarian organization Mercy Corps and home improvement retail leader The Home Depot, has distributed 40 custom agricultural recovery kits to farming households in Crawford, St Elizabeth and Seaford Town, Westmoreland, aiming to reverse catastrophic damage to local livelihoods.
The two-day distribution initiative unfolded on April 15 and 16, 2026, rolling out resources curated specifically to address the most pressing gaps farmers faced after the storm. Each kit is packed with a full suite of practical, high-need supplies: heavy-duty land clearing and cutting equipment to remove storm debris, foundational hand tools for daily cultivation, specialized crop management inputs, and personal protective gear for farm workers. With these resources in hand, local farmers can now clear vegetation and debris from storm-ravaged plots, restart active cultivation, and begin rebuilding the steady income streams their families depend on.
For many beneficiaries, the support arrives at a moment of deep uncertainty. “After the hurricane, a lot of us didn’t know how we would get back on our feet. These tools give me a chance to clear out and start planting again. It means I can start providing for my family again,” Steve Kameka, one of the participating farmers, shared in an official press release issued Friday.
Lisa D’Oyen, Executive Director of the Seprod Foundation, emphasized that The Home Depot’s contribution was foundational to getting the initiative off the ground. “The support from The Home Depot has been instrumental in helping farmers take the first steps toward recovery,” D’Oyen explained. “Through our partnership with Mercy Corps, we are able to ensure that these resources reach the communities that need them most, while continuing to build a foundation for long-term resilience.”
As the international lead on the project, Mercy Corps oversaw end-to-end procurement and logistical coordination of the donated kits, working side-by-side with Seprod Foundation to plan on-the-ground distribution and host community outreach sessions to connect eligible farmers with support. Allison Dworschak, Mercy Corps’ Caribbean Resilience Director, noted that local partnership has been critical to ensuring the response aligns with community priorities. “Our partnership with Seprod Foundation has been key to keeping our work across Jamaica grounded and connected to the real needs expressed by hurricane-impacted communities,” Dworschak said. “We look forward to continued partnership as we ready ourselves for next season.”
This kit distribution is just one component of a broader, long-running recovery program focused on boosting agricultural resilience and shoring up food security across Jamaica’s hurricane-affected regions. Both Crawford and Seaford Town have been flagged as priority zones for sustained investment, as ongoing rebuilding work continues and farmers gradually work to reestablish stable, productive livelihoods.
Seprod Foundation officials stressed that unmet need remains substantial across impacted farming communities, and reiterated that ongoing collaboration between local, international and private sector partners will be critical to expanding assistance and deepening long-term impact for hurricane survivors.