Fifteen farmers have taken up plots at the High Rock Agro Park in East End, as work advances to provide affordable land access to Caymanian farmers and increase the supply of locally grown produce.
The government-led initiative has now progressed from the land preparation phase to active production at the 100-acre site, the Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure told Cayman Independent.
“Transforming previously unused Crown land into a functioning agricultural site has required extensive planning, preparation and coordination, particularly in relation to land clearing, access, water supply, electricity, drainage and other supporting infrastructure,” the ministry wrote.
The challenges have been addressed, the ministry said, through ongoing collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, other government agencies, utility providers and programme participants.
The priority now will be to complete the remaining water and electrical infrastructure, the ministry added, as well as supporting successful applicants in their farming operations.
Participant selection and support
An amendment approved in Cabinet on 8 July to the Agricultural Land-Use Licence Policy allowed the programme to retain its “transparent, merit-based assessment” process for applicants, the ministry said, and introduce a “peppercorn licence fee” of CI$1 a year.
The High Rock programme is the first pilot initiative launched under the land-use policy.
“The initiative is designed to expand opportunities for Caymanian farmers, including small-scale farmers, women and young farmers, increase local agricultural production and generate practical data to help inform future policy decisions and program development,” the ministry wrote.
In August 2025, the first seven licences were awarded under the programme. The ministry has said the remaining plots will be awarded in phases. To date, 63 applications have been reviewed by the Agricultural Land-Use Evaluation and Recommendation Committee.
The hope, the ministry said, is to develop a practical, scalable model that increases local food production, improves food security and encourages agricultural entrepreneurship.
“Government will continue to monitor agricultural output, land utilization, infrastructure performance and other outcomes from the pilot,” the ministry said. “The lessons learned will help inform future policy development and determine the feasibility of expanding the program or implementing similar agricultural land-use initiatives elsewhere in the Cayman Islands.”
