‘Resilience Farm Tour’ delivers $5 million worth of Solenis Diversey products to boost farm-to-hotel value chain
sratech Jamaica Limited recently expanded its national Resilience Farm Tour initiative with a donation valued at more than $5 million in Solenis Diversey products to small ruminant farmers who supply the island’s hotel and hospitality industry.
The official handover, held last Friday, was formally received by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), underscoring the importance of coordinated support across the sector. The initiative forms part of Isratech’s broader push to transition farmers from recovery to long-term resilience following recent climate-related challenges.
As the official distributor of Diversey cleaning and sanitation solutions in Jamaica, Isratech’s partnership with the global specialty chemical company is aimed at strengthening agricultural resilience, improving farm hygiene standards, and reinforcing the critical link between agriculture and tourism — two of Jamaica’s most important economic pillars.
Small ruminant farmers play a key role in supplying hotels, restaurants and resorts across the island. However, rising demand for high-quality, locally produced food has increased the need for stronger sanitation and food safety practices.
As such, the recent donation of professional-grade cleaning solutions is expected to enhance biosecurity, support compliance with food safety standards, while creating healthier production environments, ultimately improving farmers’ ability to meet the requirements of the tourism sector.
CEO of Isratech Benjamin Hodara said the latest effort reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening the entire agricultural value chain.
Hundreds of farmers are to benefit from the Isratech Resilience Farm Tour, an initiative designed to help them recover and rebuild following the impact of Hurricane Melissa.
Under the programme, being undertaken by Isratech Jamaica Limited, farmers in select parishes will receive free technical assessments and irrigation systems, seedling trays, soil and other inputs to get them back into production.
It is also designed to build agricultural resilience through climate-smart practices.
Speaking at the launch held at Isratech’s offices in Kendal, Manchester on Wednesday (April 8), the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Benjamin Hodara, said that the programme was born out of a clear need to provide sustained support to farmers still grappling with the hurricane’s impact months after the disaster.
He said that recovery in agriculture is a prolonged process, noting that the destruction caused by extreme weather events goes beyond crops to disrupt livelihoods and entire production cycles.
“Farmers across the country took a serious hit, and while the hurricane happened over five months ago, recovery takes time,” he said.
“When disaster strikes, income stops, cycles are broken, and the road back is harder than many realise. What farmers need is not just relief, but confidence that they will be supported when they reinvest,” he pointed out.
Mr. Hodara explained that the Resilience Farm Tour is designed to deliver that confidence by taking support directly to farmers across Jamaica.
Importantly, Mr. Hodara noted that each farm engaged under the programme will serve as a demonstration site, allowing neighbouring farmers to see modern agricultural solutions working in real Jamaican conditions.
INGSTON, Jamaica—Isratech and its partners are set to launch their resilience farm tour, an islandwide initiative aimed at helping farmers recover, rebuild, and adopt more resilient farming practices following the impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa on the Jamaican agriculture sector.
“Jamaica’s farmers need more than sympathy after disaster. They need practical support, access to solutions, and the confidence that recovery after any disaster is possible,” said Benjamin Hodara, chief executive officer of Isratech, in a media release.
“The Resilience Farm Tour is about meeting farmers where they are, helping them rebuild with purpose, and demonstrating that resilience in agriculture must become part of how we farm going forward,” he added.
The tour will be officially launched on April 8, 2026, and forms part of this year’s Farmers’ Month activities, It will bring direct support to farming communities across the island under the theme “From Recovery to Resilience”.
The initiative will provide practical, climate-smart interventions to small and medium-scale farmers, while demonstrating solutions that can strengthen agricultural productivity and improve long-term sustainability.
The tour will span several parishes, including Manchester, St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny, St Ann, and Westmoreland, with special focus being placed on female farmers in recognition of 2026 as the Year of the Female Farmer.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with Responsibility for Water, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, has hailed Isratech Jamaica Limited for its investments in the country’s water sector.
The Minister toured the company’s Shooters Hill headquarters in Manchester on August 23, where he observed the High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Pipe Manufacturing Plant.
“The water needs of Jamaica between now and 2030 – if we’re able to deploy the number of projects that we need – will be somewhere in the range of US$5 million. It is obvious that Jamaica will need support externally, both on the financial side as well as the expertise in particular categories. So, it is very encouraging when local firms are making investments in Jamaica,” Mr. Samuda said.
These investments by Isratech, the Minister outlined, are “both on the expertise side and equipment side and, certainly, on the production side”.
He explained that, in turn, “more of this investment, which must be made by the Government by whichever financial mechanism,… more of the money spent, stays here [and] more of the elements of production stay here”.
“I want to thank Isratech for their continued commitment and investment in Jamaica and thank you for your focus on the future because, ultimately, we do want to see many more firms make the sort of investment that you’re making. We want to see the expertise that you bring to the field of irrigation, of potable water treatment and we are going to need more of this,” the Minister said.
Underscoring the value of strong partnerships to global water needs, Senator Samuda pointed out that the sector is amongst the top priorities across the world, where significant capital investment will be directed.
Chief Executive Officer of Isratech, Benjamin Hodara, expressed the entity’s “hope to continue to invest in infrastructure and support the critical industries that are needed in Jamaica – water, agriculture and energy”.
Isratech Jamaica Limited offers various products and services for applications in the agricultural, water and energy sectors.
The company, which has been operational since 1985, has three divisions – Jamaica Drip Irrigation, Isratech Waterworks and Isratech Energy Solutions.
They pride themselves on offering a broad scope of value for agricultural, municipal, industrial, commercial and residential purposes, with capabilities ranging from engineering and design, and manufacturing and supply of products, to implementation and maintenance.
Business View Caribbean interviews Benjamin Hodara, Deputy CEO of Isratech Jamaica Ltd, for our focus on Agriculture, Energy & Waterworks in the Caribbean
Isratech Jamaica Limited – One company, three divisions, a wealth of satisfied customers. A complement of unique and sustainable products and services unparalleled anywhere in the Caribbean and Central America. Since 1985, this forward-thinking firm has steadily grown its impressive platform of products and services for applications in the agricultural, water and energy sectors. A trio of divisions under the IJL banner – Jamaica Drip Irrigation (JDI), Isratech Waterworks (IWW) and Isratech Energy Solutions (IES) – provides a broad scope of value for agricultural, municipal, industrial, commercial and residential purposes. Capabilities range from engineering and design, to manufacturing and supply of product, and implementation and maintenance, all accessible through the company’s extensive distribution network.
Benjamin (Benjie) Hodara, Deputy CEO of IJL, relates, “We are a family-run business founded by my father, Shalom Hodara, in Jamaica over 35 years ago. In the 1980s there was a joint agricultural project between Jamaica and Israel called Spring Plain. My father, an Israeli, was the packing house manager. Unfortunately low market prices caused the venture to fall through and the company closed. When they began selling off the assets of the company my father, wanting to remain in Jamaica, took the opportunity to purchase the irrigation factory equipment with the vision to expanding the market to supply both locally and abroad. The banana and papaya industry experienced a boom at the time and that helped propel the company to success. Shalom then expanded this footprint to supply and install other agricultural products greatly needed in the sector. Thereafter, he ventured into alternative energy solutions and lastly he expanded into the water industry completing the three divisions we have today.”
Recently, IJL implemented the tagline ‘Isratech Jamaica: Master the Elements’ to reflect the fact that its three divisions all relate to the environment in some way. Jamaica Drip Irrigation supports agriculture; Isratech Waterworks supports water and wastewater treatment and the distribution/storage of water; and Isratech Energy Solutions provides alternative sources of energy for reducing the carbon footprint. The core of the overall business runs from the Mandeville headquarters – a five-acre site with warehousing, offices, and a large factory. A second location in Montego Bay includes the IJL engineering corps, a retail location, a sales operation, and a wholesale operation. A third location in Kingston is slated for expansion in the not too distance future.
According to Benjie, “Jamaica Drip Irrigation is the only manufacturer of drip irrigation in the Caribbean. In that division, we design, install, and maintain irrigation systems, we build high-tech greenhouses for our customers, and we supply all the agricultural inputs that are needed by the industry. In Isratech Waterworks division, we are a large supplier of water infrastructure in the Caribbean. We sell a wide variety of pumps, we manufacture HDPE pipes, and we design, supply, install, and maintain water and wastewater treatment facilities. In our Energy Solutions division, we supply, install, and maintain photovoltaic systems, solar water heaters, solar pumps, and we’ve recently gone into generators.”
Jamaica Drip Irrigation and Isratech Waterworks export products and do the building and commissioning of projects throughout the Caribbean. They have either sent equipment to or done an actual project on almost every island in the region. In the past, Jamaica Drip Irrigation was the main source of revenue for IJL, however, with increasing regulations for protecting the environment in the Caribbean, the waterworks division has been growing significantly in the last few years. That division of the company is now the number one revenue producer. Benjie states, “ A lot of the infrastructure in the Caribbean is outdated, which puts us in a very good position to revive and or replace it with newer more sustainable technologies. Our competitive advantage comes from the diversity of our company – we don’t only supply, we employ an engineering corps that handles all the added service to the customer. Further, we manufacture a great majority of the components for our projects. This along with our wealth of experience operating here in the Caribbean sets us apart in our field.”
Each of the company’s facilities has a training room, where training and development is provided for the entire IJL staff of about 130 employees. Extensive training is also conducted out in the field. In addition, IJL trains and passes on a great deal of knowledge to external bodies, such as the general public, government institutions, etc. The value of long-term partnerships to the success of a business cannot be understated. Isratech Jamaica continues to enjoy lengthy relationships with several suppliers in excess of 30 years and has helped build a name for those international brands in the Caribbean. Benjie would especially like to give a shout-out to: “Chromagen, a leader in hot water solutions that we’ve been in partnership with since 1992. Our energy solutions include the Chromagen brand of solar water heaters, for which IES is the sole distributor in Jamaica. In addition, Rivulis, an irrigation company out of Israel, and Plasson, a manufacturer of plastic pipe fittings, have been our partners since 1985.”
Looking ahead, IJL has some exciting and innovative initiatives on the front burner. The Jamaica Drip Irrigation division recently expanded into the supply of equipment and services for the emerging medical cannabis industry. They have also opened the Caribbean’s first medical cannabis horticultural supply store in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In Mandeville, the company recently purchased another nine acres adjacent to its headquarters and has broken ground on a very large expansion plan to include a retail location, engineering corps, an online shopping distribution hub for the Caribbean, and new factory space. They are proud to announce the addition of new services and product lines under each of the IJL’s three divisions after this expansion is completed. A new property just acquired in Kingston for their expansion in the main city will include an engineering corps, a retail location and distribution hub. These new expansions will undoubtedly enhance the diversity and reach of their company.
The firm’s objective over the next five years is to further establish Isratech Jamaica Limited as an environmental company in the industries of agriculture, water, and energy across Jamaica and the Caribbean with strategic partnerships. “That would be our overarching five-year plan,” says Benjie, “to expand and implement our knowledge and technologies as far as we can. As part of this plan, in 2015 we were certified ISO 9002, and in 2018 we certified ISO 1401 for environmental best practices”
Isratech Jamaica Limited is a high-tech, diverse company that is bringing a higher level of professionalism to the agriculture, water, and energy industries in the Caribbean for the benefit of the region as a whole. Benjie notes, “We’re connected with many innovative companies in Israel, Europe, the U.S. and we are harnessing a lot of new technology, expertise and quality solutions for use in our market areas. It is our policy to select high quality product lines in accordance to our standards and our service.”
Geographically, IJL covers the Caribbean and parts of Central America, providing turnkey solutions as an essential component, i.e. engineering, design, installation, maintenance, and after-sales service. The company has taken the strategic decision to hold a large amount of stock in the region, meaning that any given time they are able to mobilize much faster than other companies in the industry. This does not mean that Isratech Jamaica is just a supply company. They also do wholesale, retail, special projects, have their own engineering corps, and a very diverse portfolio. The Waterworks division has about 2,000 plus different SKUs of water items; Jamaica Drip Irrigation has about 10,000 SKUs of irrigation items; and the Energy division has about 300 plus SKUs of energy items – providing an obviously large base of materials to work with.
Isratech Jamaica is proud and fiercely protective of its reputation as a pioneering powerhouse in the region. A truly full-service partner and provider, IJL specializes in optimal cost-efficiencies and sustainable, environmentally responsible execution. The company is continually expanding and keeping abreast of the latest technology in each of their sectors and is highly dedicated to providing solutions in the environment in the agriculture, water and energy sectors. Decades of experience combined with strong principles have given IJL a trusted reputation and broad knowledge base that will carry them successfully far into the future.
Leading Florida-based cardiologist Dr Kevin Coy recently donated US$20,000 to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), which was facilitated by a Gore Family Foundation (GFF) partner, The American Friends of Jamaica.
Dr Coy’s specific request and direction was for the GFF to purchase an autoclave for the sterilisation of KPH’s operating equipment.
The sparkling, new autoclave arrived from Israel recently, free of shipping costs, courtesy of Isratech Jamaica Limited, while Gore Developments Ltd covered ground transportation and handling fees.
The medical doctor also provided funds for two medical engineers from the Ministry of Health to travel to the New York-based manufacturer for training in maintenance and repair of the equipment.
Dr Coy, a Jamaican by birth, is the founding partner of Miami International Cardiology Consultants and a director of the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at Aventura Hospital in Florida.
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton expressed his profound appreciation to Dr Coy on behalf of the KPH and the people of Jamaica.
McGill Christ Palm, Clarendon — Employees of the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) recently got a head-start on how to use an advanced water measuring system through training provided by supplier Jamaica Drip Irrigation.The measuring system is aimed at improving water conservation.
The measuring system is aimed at improving water conservation. The NIC, an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, manages and operates irrigation schemes and systems established by the Government of Jamaica.The Manchester-based Jamaica Drip Irrigation, which was successful in receiving the tender to supply the “Ultrasonic Flow Metre”, used a two-day seminar to familiarize the NIC team members with the
The Manchester-based Jamaica Drip Irrigation, which was successful in receiving the tender to supply the “Ultrasonic Flow Metre”, used a two-day seminar to familiarize the NIC team members with the water measuring equipment. A sit-in session at Jamaica Drip’s headquarters at Kendal was followed by a field trip. Trainees were taken to NIC pump houses in Clarendon and St Catherine along with trainers, including technical director of Jamaica Drip Irrigation Ofer Berkovich and representatives of Dorot Control Valves, which is a “leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of [a] wide range of products for the water market”. Matteo Zulian who came from a branch of Dorot in Italy and Ehud Zemer from Mexico played an integral role in the theoretical and hands-on training. Dorot’s Research and Development department reportedly has a long tradition of generating innovative solutions for the application of water control systems including waterworks, distribution networks, sewage and effluent disposal, power stations and irrigation systems. Zulian told the Jamaica Observer Central that the benefits of the Ultrasonic Flow Metre system include its accuracy, ease of installation with reduced risk of damage to equipment and improved efficiency.Jamaica Drips’ technical director said that his company has been associated with
Jamaica Drips’ technical director said that his company has been associated with Dorot for many years with different products. The Ultrasonic Flow Metre was recently introduced, he said. Jamaica Drip Irrigation is the “exclusive” representative and distributor for Dorot in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Berkovich explained that companies are better able to conserve on water use if they are able to accurately measure quantities. “We have to take care of the water,” said Berkovich.
Jamaica Drip Irrigation is one of three divisions of Isratech Jamaica, which is a family-owned company. It’s Israeli proprietors also offer service through Isratech Waterworks and Isratech Energy Solutions.
KINGSTON, Jamaica—ISRATECH Jamaica in collaboration with global non-profit Planet Water Foundation has announced the arrival of six state-of-the-art AquaBlock emergency water filtration systems to assist communities severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
The life-saving systems departed Phoenix, Arizona, and will arrive in Kingston, Jamaica aboard a Boeing 737 humanitarian relief flight, the largest single aid flight to land in Jamaica since the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The six units can produce a maximum of 57,600 gallons of potable water per day which will be able to be accessed by the general public.
“In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, access to safe water remains one of the most urgent needs for recovery and resilience. Through our strategic partnership with Planet Water Foundation, ISRATECH is rapidly restoring this essential resource to affected communities. Each AquaBlock system represents both innovation and hope – engineered for swift deployment and sustained impact, supported by our team’s technical expertise on the ground,” said Benjamin Hodara, chief executive officer (CEO) of ISRATECH.
