Southern Plains Agri Project Allocated $1.3B
By: , February 15, 2022The Full Story
More than $1.3 billion has been allocated for the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project, which aims to provide access to irrigation water on fallow sugar lands, to increase agricultural productivity through the modernisation of the agricultural sector.
Details of the provision are contained in the 2022/2023 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.
The project includes construction of wells and canal network and the development of the associated agricultural infrastructure in the arable areas of Amity Hall and Bridge Pen in St. Catherine and Parnassus in Clarendon.
Anticipated physical targets for 2022 to 2023 include the acquisition of geographic information system (GIS) equipment, commencement of road rehabilitation and installation of irrigation networks in Parnassus and Amity Hall/ Bridge Pen.
Construction of pump house and reservoir, and canal rehabilitation are to commence during this period.
Physical achievements up to December 2021 are the drilling of three wells and a completed yield test that was conducted in Parnassus, Clarendon.
The project, which originally ran from December 2019 to June 2022, has been extended to June 2023.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is spearheading the project. Funding is being provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).