$150 Million Allocated To Modernise Agricultural Sector Programme

A sum of $150 million has been budgeted for the Modernisation of the Agricultural Sector Programme.

The objective of the project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, is to increase agricultural productivity and income for beneficiary smallholder farmers.

Details are outlined in the 2022/2023 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

Among the anticipated physical targets for 2022/2023 are the supply and installation of hardware, software, laboratory and other equipment to support the information and surveillance systems at the Veterinary Services Division and Plant Protection Unit; upgrading of infrastructure (office space, server room, electrical/temperature control) for the Plant Health Information System, and refurbishing of out station buildings and new roofing in Kingston and St. Andrew, Manchester, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and Trelawny are also to be undertaken.

Other targets are the development of the framework for agricultural public-private partnerships, the design of a Plant Health Information System, and establishment of the Project Management Unit.

A Baseline Study of Agro-Parks Productivity and Performance is also to be conducted.

Funding is being provided by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The project duration is April 2022 to March 2027.