Agriculture Minister Calls for Expansion of Improved Rural Livelihoods Project

Following the successful implementation of the Improving Rural Livelihoods Through Resilient Agri-Food Systems (IRL) Project, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, has called for similar initiatives to be replicated across rural communities islandwide.

Speaking during the project’s closing ceremony on Wednesday (March 25), at St. Catherine High School, Minister Green highlighted the success of the initiative in transforming the lives of small farmers, particularly women and youth.

Launched in 2023, the IRL Project was funded by a US$1-million investment from the Government of India through the India-United Nations Fund for Development Partnership.

It was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, and coordinated by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

The project specifically targeted Kitson Town in St. Catherine, equipping participants with training in climate-smart agriculture, greenhouse-based protected farming, livestock management, food safety, and entrepreneurship.

“I think the only thing that would be better than this project is to do more of this project. Seeing that it has worked, I think what we should do is take it and replicate it across a number of our rural communities. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel. If the participants are telling you that it has done so well, let us move it into additional communities,” Minister Green said, while expressing gratitude to the Indian Government.

The project’s impact was showcased through a performance by the Kitson Town Women Farmers, who demonstrated how the initiative has improved their livelihoods.

More than 200 individuals benefited from training, with women accounting for 62.7 per cent of participants and youth under 35 representing 36 per cent. The training covered small livestock systems, including poultry, pigs, goats, and beekeeping, alongside sessions on food safety and financial literacy.

The physical benefits of the project included the distribution of 14 greenhouses, more than 2,400 broiler chicks, and the renovation of several livestock facilities.

Minister Green pledged that the Government stands ready to partner with India to ensure the continuation of these successes.

“Having done it in a partnership model with the FAO, with RADA (Rural Agricultural Development Authority), with the Ministry of Agriculture, and having done it successfully… if you can’t do as much as the million, the Government is here to meet you part way,” he noted.

Mr. Green further explained that the initiative aligns with the Ministry’s goal of strengthening agricultural resilience, noting that expanded partnerships in rural areas will help fortify the sector against climate-related challenges.

“For us, this ties into our drive to build resilience. Part of what the Government is doing is taking deliberate steps to ensure that we have a more resilient ecosystem, so that we can bounce back quicker and stronger after any hurricane… any weather event,” he said.

Meanwhile, FAO Representative for Jamaica, Dr. Ana Touza, noted that although the project has concluded, its legacy will endure for beneficiaries, including students from St. Catherine High School and Tacius Golding High School.

Sharing this sentiment, Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Mayank Joshi, remarked that the initiative has fostered meaningful community transformation.

“This initiative… reminds us that livelihood is not merely about income. It is about dignity, confidence, and the ability of individuals and communities to shape their own future and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

High Commissioner Joshi noted that the project has laid a strong foundation for community transformation, where knowledge is translated into opportunity, fostering long-term progress and resilient livelihoods.