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Citrus Replanting Project gets Sum for 2007/08

April 3, 2007

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The Citrus Replanting Project has received $1 million, as set out in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.
Funded by the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in the form of a loan and a grant, the project aims to prevent the decline of the citrus industry, which is being threatened by the citrus tristeza virus, by replacing 1,556 hectares of groves within the next five years.
The five-year citrus replanting project seeks to sensitise the public to the threat through a public education programme and to inform them of their role and responsibilities. It also seeks to provide growers with the necessary technical information to effectively manage the groves and to increase the technical capabilities of the research staff to continually establish, monitor and evaluate technologies.
During the 2007/08 financial year, it is anticipated that the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will facilitate monthly steering committee meetings; produce annual work-plan and budget of the project, as well as monthly and quarterly reports; and prepare and submit to CDB, claims and reimbursements against the grant and loan.
In addition, consultants will provide research services in the areas of plant pathology and agronomy. Analysis of survey data and experimental data of soil and leaf nutrients levels will be done. Four quarterly progress reports will be submitted. Incidence of disease on a parish basis and the strains of the virus in Jamaica will be provided and effective pesticide against vector will be determined.
Extension service providers, during this financial year, will submit a work plan and budget for the 5th year, monthly and quarterly reports. They will also monitor 8 demonstration plots and stage 32 demonstration sessions, organize 24 field days and 20 workshops, distribute posters, educational materials and newsletters, participate in Denbigh Agricultural Show, maintain the database and make entries on a regular basis, and assist in the organisation of, and participate in meetings planned.
Up to February 2007, the project was successful in preparing 91 farm plans; 7,910 farm visits carried out; and extension service provider engaged and contract completed. Certification services are fully operational, and the production and movement of 499,614 certified plants from 20 registered nurseries has been monitored, through 757 nursery visits in the case of certifications.
A two-year public education component of the project has been completed; in the area of entomology, research work has been completed; in the area of agronomy, research pilots were established and several applications of fertilizer done; leaf and soil samples were collected from all research plots, and inter-cropping of research plots done at Montpelier and Orange River Research Stations in St. James.

Last Updated: April 3, 2007

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