$6.31 Billion for Rehabilitation of Research Facilities Over Six Years

The Government is investing $6.31 billion on the rehabilitation of agricultural research facilities across the island over the next six years.

The work will be done under phase two of the Rehabilitation of Research Centres Project, which was launched on June 13 at the Bodles Research Centre in St. Catherine.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, said the significant investment is intended to revitalise research capacity to drive productivity and production.

“In phase two, we won’t just focus on Bodles. We have to focus on the entire infrastructure of our research… . The central objective of phase two is to ensure that all our research centres are seen as centres of excellence to ensure that they facilitate the Government’s drive to contribute to economic growth and development, import substitution and employment generation,” he said.

“Activities such as animal breeding and husbandry, field and horticultural services, epidemiology and surveillance, phytosanitary research and station management operations will be a central focus of phase two, ” he noted.

The Rehabilitation of Research Centres Project phase two will impact the five research stations under the Ministry’s Research and Development Division.

In addition to Bodles, the others are Top Mountain Station in St. Andrew, Orange River Station in St. Mary, Hounslow Station in St. Elizabeth, and the Montpelier Station in St. James.

Works to be undertaken at Bodles include construction and renovation of dairy parlor, warehouse and storage, immature paddock, cattle handling facility, scale house and clerk office, feed mixing facility, administration building and changing room and lounge.

Phase one of the undertaking, which involved investment of approximately $1 billion, focused on the Bodles Research Centre.

The project was initially slated for implementation between April 2018 to March 23 and was extended to March 2024.

The objective of the Rehabilitation of Research Centres Project is to upgrade research, training, and administrative facilities for utilisation by scientists, extension officers and agriculture training institutions.

It is focused on four components – infrastructure improvement, research and technology, commercialisation of services and institutional strengthening.

The Research and Development Division of the Ministry is mandated to generate, promote and transfer knowledge and technology for the sustainable development of a modern, efficient and competitive agriculture sector and agro-industry, and the development of human capital and innovation.