$65 Million Set Aside For Soil Fertility Mapping Project

The Government has allocated $65 million for the Soil Fertility Mapping Project, which aims to increase the productivity and quality of agricultural produce.

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

The project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, seeks to optimise farmers’ profits and enhance farming efficiency while maintaining good environmental stewardship, through an integrated soil management system.

It will establish a database with updated information regarding the availability of fertile soil throughout the island.

Among the features of the projects are development of fertiliser recommendations for crops and establishing fertiliser programmes; putting in place a geo-reference soil fertility information system for the country; and enhancing the human and technical capacity of farmers, extension officers and researchers in soil information, and fertility monitoring and management.

Achievements under the project, up to December 2021, include the completion of training in soil and plant analysis, and geographic information system (GIS) software.

The allocation for the 2022/2023 period will go towards undertaking mapping needs assessment in Essex Valley in St. Elizabeth, which has been selected as a pilot area for the project.

Other works include digitisation of manual maps, soil sampling and analysis, and soil fertility mapping.

The Government of Jamaica and the Kingdom of Morocco are jointly funding the project.