Amidst concerns regarding a labour shortage on Jamaican farms, Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Junior is hopeful that Jamaicans who engage in the overseas farm work programme will use the skills they learnt abroad, when they return home.

Speaking at the ministry’s post sectoral media briefing on Thursday, Mr Charles Jr. noted that the programme offers participants the opportunity to garner skills that are useful to Jamaica.

He added that Jamaican farms stand to benefit from the implementation of new and modern techniques.

Mr Charles Junior also stated that there is a lack of data, regarding the reported labour shortage being faced by farms across the island.

He noted that more discussions will be had, on the issue.