NOMINATIONS have officially opened for the 2026 CARICOM Farmer of the Year Award and the Ministers of Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year Award, with regional agricultural stakeholders being encouraged to submit candidates by the end of June.
The CARICOM Secretariat announced on Monday that nominations for the prestigious awards, which recognise outstanding contributions to regional food security and food sovereignty, must be submitted through the Ministries of Agriculture in CARICOM Member States and Associate Members. The selection process is scheduled to begin in July.
Nominees are required to submit a brief biography detailing their farming operations, including the volume and type of produce cultivated, along with a two-minute video showcasing farm production activities and the use of technology.
The awards, inaugurated during the 16th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in October 2021, were established to highlight the critical role farmers and farming enterprises play in strengthening the region’s agricultural sector and reducing dependence on food imports.
According to the Secretariat, the Farmer of the Year Award was designed to create a positive profile of Caribbean farmers while promoting agriculture as a viable area for investment. The award also recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment and innovation, contributing to the resilience and sustainability of the sector.
Dominican farmer, Deles Warrington, became the first recipient of the award in 2021. Subsequent winners included Jamaican farmer Peter McConnell on behalf of Trade Winds Citrus Limited in 2023, Alicia Bogues on behalf of Caribbean Broilers Jamaica Group in 2024, and Dave Fairman on behalf of The Best Dressed Chicken, a division of Jamaica Broilers Group, in 2025.
The Ministers of Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year Award was created to encourage and support young agri-preneurs who have demonstrated excellence, innovation and financial success in the agri-food sector.
The award recognises creativity, sound business management and sustainable agricultural practices, while supporting efforts to attract more young people to careers in agriculture.
Jamaican farmer, Citerina Atkins, was the inaugural recipient of the Young Farmer of the Year Award, followed by fellow Jamaican Diandra Rowe in 2023, Dominica’s Kevorn Vidal in 2024, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Michael Joseph in 2025.
The 2026 award winners will be announced and honoured during the opening ceremony of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, scheduled for September 27 in Jamaica.