$1.2B Essex Valley Irrigation System to be Built

The Government will, this year, commence the construction of a new irrigation system in Essex Valley, St. Elizabeth, at a cost of approximately J$1.2 billion (US$10 million).

This was announced by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, during Thursday’s (April 14) Ceremonial Opening of Parliament at Gordon House, for the 2016/17 legislative year.

Delivering the Throne Speech, under the theme: ‘Building a Partnership for Prosperity’, the Governor-General said the Government will be expanding the Hounslow irrigation system, also situated in St. Elizabeth.

In underscoring the importance of these engagements, he said severe drought impacting Jamaica in recent years, “demands that we place greater emphasis on irrigation expansion.”

The Governor-General said the Hounslow packing house and pepper mash processing plant will be expanded, while the community’s farm roads are to be repaired.

A new agro park will also be developed in Spring Gardens, Portland, he further announced.

He said this facility, coupled with the New Forest/Duff House Agro Park, and the irrigation systems at Hounslow and Pedro Plains, will transform South St. Elizabeth into “one huge agro-economic zone.”

The Governor-General said the Government also planned to transform the Agro Park concept into one of an Agro Economic Zone.

The new concept, he explained, will focus on expanding the production of primary agricultural products supported by the appropriate infrastructural inputs, in order to boost the agricultural sector’s value chain.

The Governor-General also welcomed formation of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.

He said the merger is expected to better enable the Ministry to positively exploit the synergies between agriculture and industry.