Improved Irrigation Service to Agro-Parks In Clarendon Under REDI-II Project

A sum of $114.59 million has been invested in irrigation by the Government, through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) second Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI-II) project, for the benefit of Ebony Park Agro-Park in Clarendon.

The goal is to improve irrigation service across the entire Ebony Park Agro-Park, along with the adjoining Spring Plain and Mango Agro-Parks, especially for farmers.

This project facilitated the installation of 1.8 kilometres of force transmission main, which gives an upgrade to the existing distribution lines; the rehabilitation of the pump at Spring Plain, which serves the shared Ebony Park-Spring Plain network; and the installation of pump switchgear.

The new irrigation service was formally handed over on Thursday (September 17) by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, during a ceremony inside Ebony Park Agro-Park – a 1,197-acre agricultural development, managed through the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC).

In his address, Minister Green said prior to the official handover ceremony, the new irrigation system was previously commissioned and has already generated $17 million from 36 acres of farm land at the Ebony Park Agro-Park.

“We expect to see an additional $84 million when the full 93 acres are put into production. So, in one production cycle, our farmers will show the return on investment of the $100 million by the Government, and that is why this Government continues and will continue with the help of people like JSIF and The World Bank, to invest in agriculture,” Mr. Green said.

He said the installation is timely and “a significant step in the right direction”, as the country continues to experience drought conditions in some areas. He said the new equipment will help with better drought preparation.

“I’ve always believed the best way to deal with a drought is before the drought happens. Our climate has changed and we are going to be seeing drier conditions and longer periods of drought… . The best way to treat with drought is to provide farmers with a reliable source of water during the times of drought, and that is what this project is about,” Mr. Green said.

“This represents a significant step in the right direction. We know that one of the big hindrances to agriculture in Jamaica is access to water… . The good thing with this area [why it was chosen], [is because] it grows everything, and it already has some of the best farmers in Jamaica,” he said.

The project was designed to deliver benefits at two levels: to bring 93 acres of fertile farmland within the Ebony Park Agro-Park into production, directly benefiting 19 new farmers; and through the rehabilitated pump and switchgear, to strengthen water supply, pressure, and flow across the wider shared network.

Beneficiaries are approximately 146 farmers and agri-investors across roughly 1,474 acres – 19 new and 83 existing farmers on the Ebony Park Agro-Park (93 newly serviced acres and the existing 431 acres), and 44 active farmers on approximately 950 acres across the Spring Plain and Mango Agro-Parks.

The Second Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI II) is a loan to the Government by the World Bank, valued at US$40 million, that is being issued as grants to beneficiaries in the agricultural and tourism sectors.

This project also finances civil works, goods, and consulting services for the priority public infrastructure investment required to improve the efficiency and climate resilience of targeted agri-food and tourism value chains.

The Agro-Investment Corporation and National Irrigation Commission, which operate and maintain the infrastructure, together with local buyers, purveyors, and agro-processors, also benefit.