Work to construct wells progresses in Essex Valley

Work is progressing under the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project in St. Elizabeth with four out of six irrigation wells to be constructed, already developed.

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, said the project is being funded by the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UK-CIF), to the tune of £35million and forms part of plans by the government to develop drip irrigation systems for farmers.

“I have the ambition that between 50,000 to a 100,000 small farmers must get access to drip irrigation systems in this country as soon as possible…Drip irrigation systems have to be a big part of the solution to the climate change environment and the drought conditions that we’re facing” he said. Minister Shaw was addressing the recently held Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon.

Launched by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, at the Lititz Primary School in St. Elizabeth in January, the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project aims to reduce the water -related challenges being faced by over 700 farmers in the Essex Valley area.

It will provide improved irrigation systems on approximately 700 hectares of land and will include the development of a climate-resilient off-farm irrigation system consisting of the six irrigation wells and restoration of approximately 30 kilometres of farm/community roads.

Additionally, it will augment some of the work already undertaken in the area through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)/ Government of Jamaica (GOJ)-Agricultural Competitiveness Programme.

This IDB/GOJ Agricultural Competitiveness Programme focuses on facilitating the linkage of the primary productive sector with the marketing chain through the promotion of market access, market linkages, food quality and safety management systems and agri-business value chains through the agro-parks.

As part of the medium to long term strategy under the Irrigation Development Programme, aimed at improving agricultural infrastructure islandwide, the Ministry will also be initiating the development of arable lands in St. Catherine and Clarendon under the proposed South Plains Agricultural Development (SPAD) Project.

This is to be implemented through a grant of approximately £17.5 million from the UK-CIF, administered by the Caribbean Development Bank.

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