With agriculture under increasing threat from organised criminal networks, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has formally activated its newly minted Agricultural Protection Branch, marking a significant step in the fight against praedial larceny.
The unit was officially launched this week, with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Warren Clarke issuing a call to action to safeguard a sector he described as both economically vital and culturally defining.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Warren Clarke emphasised the economic and cultural significance of the sector, while warning of the threats posed by organised crime and underinvestment.
“The Jamaica agricultural sector contributes over $90 billion to our economy annually. It supports more than 2,000 homes. It feeds 200,000 livelihoods. It feeds and sustains our communities, anchors our tourism and fuels our exports,” DCP Clarke stated.
He noted that agriculture has long been the “bloodstream of our existence since our ancestors arrived in the island,” yet it remains under siege not only from criminals, but from cultural neglect.
“It’s rare that you ask a youngster out of high school or university that they’ll tell you that they are going into agriculture. And that is a shame because it is so important. But we’ll have to fix that.”
More pressing, however, is the rise in praedial larceny, which Clarke linked to criminal gangs who, he said, are using stolen agricultural goods to finance their operations, including the purchase of firearms.
The Agricultural Protection Branch will operate under the leadership of Senior Superintendent Oral Pascoe and Superintendent Shereka Service. Both officers will head a newly deployed team trained specifically to prevent and investigate agricultural crimes, including the theft of crops, livestock, and farming infrastructure.
Addressing the officers, Clarke confirmed their reassignment was effective immediately and underscored their new responsibilities.
“The mandate is clear to protect our agricultural resources from theft and damage. This includes crops, livestock, and the infrastructure that supports agricultural production,” he told the team.
The branch’s mandate includes targeted surveillance, intelligence-led policing, and stronger collaboration with farmers, agricultural bodies, and rural communities. It also aims to rebuild public confidence in the sector’s safety.
“We will relentlessly pursue them as we do other persons who choose to do violence. The protection of our sustenance is everybody’s business,” he said. “Every stolen crop, every lost animal represents a loss to our nation. It impacts the availability of food, drives prices in the wrong direction, and can lead to instability.”
He concluded with a rallying call: “Remain committed. Protecting agriculture is protecting Jamaica’s future.
