The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has officially opened nominations for its highly anticipated 2026 Farmer of the Year and Ministers of Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year Awards, an initiative designed to uplift regional agriculture and advance the bloc’s core food security goals.
First launched in October 2021 during the 16th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, the awards program celebrates the extraordinary contributions of small-scale producers and large farming enterprises across the region, spotlighting their central role in strengthening CARICOM’s food security and national food sovereignty. For stakeholders across the Caribbean’s agricultural sector, the annual awards have become a key platform to elevate the profile of farming as a dynamic, economically viable industry.
To be considered for the 2026 honors, candidates must submit completed nomination packages to the Ministry of Agriculture in their respective CARICOM member or associate member state by the June 30 deadline. Shortlisting and regional selection processes are scheduled to kick off in July, and all submissions require two core supporting materials: a brief professional biography outlining the farm’s production volume, crop or livestock focus, and operational impact, plus a two-minute promotional video that showcases on-farm production practices and any innovative technology the operation has adopted.
The flagship Farmer of the Year Award was developed to build a positive public image of Caribbean farming while encouraging increased private and public investment in the regional agricultural sector. Beyond recognition, the award honors producers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and long-term commitment to the sector, highlighting individuals and enterprises that have helped build greater systemic resilience against climate shocks, supply chain disruptions, and other threats to regional food production. Previous winners of the award include Deles Warrington of Dominica, the inaugural 2021 recipient, followed by 2023 winner Peter McConnell of Jamaica’s Trade Winds Citrus Limited, 2024 honoree Alicia Bogues of the Caribbean Broilers Jamaica Group, and 2025 winner Dave Fairman of The Best Dressed Chicken, a subsidiary of Jamaica Broilers Group.
Complementing the main award is the Young Farmer of the Year Award, created to nurture the next generation of agricultural leaders across the bloc. This category specifically recognizes young agri-preneurs who have built financially successful, sustainable operations, and celebrates creative problem-solving, innovative farming techniques, and the adoption of modern business management practices in agri-food ventures. A core strategic goal of the award is to drive a cultural shift that attracts more young people to pursue careers in Caribbean agriculture, addressing the region’s longstanding challenge of an aging farming population. Past recipients of the youth-focused award include 2021 honoree Citerina Atkins of Jamaica, 2023 winner Diandra Rowe (also of Jamaica), 2024 recipient Kevorn Vidal of Dominica, and 2025 winner Michael Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda.
The 2026 CARICOM Farmers of the Year Awards will be officially presented during the opening ceremony of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, scheduled for September 27 in Kingston, Jamaica. The annual gathering brings together agricultural policymakers, industry stakeholders, producers, and development partners from across the region to address shared challenges and advance collaborative action for a more resilient, sustainable Caribbean agricultural sector.