Funds Allocated to Enhance Resilience of Agricultural Sector

Efforts at enhancing the resilience of the country’s agricultural sector and coastal areas have been shored up with an allocation of $11.75 million.

This is set out in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure currently before the House of Representatives.

Through funding from the Adaptation Fund, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is working to protect livelihoods and food security in vulnerable communities by improving land and water management for the agricultural sector, strengthening coastal protection and building institutional and local capacity for climate change adaptation.

Up to March 2013, a work plan with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and ODPEM had been finalised.

It is anticipated that for this fiscal year, training and communication plans will be developed; a stakeholder consultation will be hosted; training manuals for local communities will be developed; and a research and project assistant will be hired.

Other targets for the period are: to design and administer Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) surveys; conduct Regulatory Impact Surveys; carry out bathymetric and topographic surveys; and conduct storm surge and flood plain modelling.

The project, which began in October 2012, is scheduled to end in March, 2016.

By Alecia Smith-Edwards, JIS Reporter