Rehabilitation of catchment areas deemed critical to farming sustainability
Published:Thursday | July 20, 2023 | 12:10 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
The rehabilitation of catchment areas to enhance water availability for agricultural purposes is being mooted as a key component of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining’s mitigation strategy.
The plan, announced by Agriculture Minister Floyd Green in the House of Representatives yesterday, is aimed at ensuring long-term water security and being a sustainable measure for coping with the ravages of climate change on farming.
This will involve desilting of reservoirs, construction of check dams, and implementation of soil conservation measures in keeping with the ministry’s objective of increasing the country’s water-holding capacity, improving water quality, and overall enhancing the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate-related water challenges, according to Green.
In recognition of the importance of efficient water management in agriculture, the ministry has also been providing farmers with irrigation kits containing essential equipment such as drip-irrigation systems and hoses.
“By promoting the adoption of modern irrigation techniques, we aim to minimise water wastage, improve water-use efficiency, and enable farmers to sustain their production even during periods of water scarcity,” Green told Parliament as he laid out a raft of support measures for the fisheries sector while providing an update on the country’s drought and flood-recovery efforts.
The total package is projected to cost $104 million, with $48 million going to provide three trucks to the National Irrigation Commission; $20 million to provide climate-resilient vegetable seeds; $15 million for the rehabilitation of the catchment areas; $10 million to be spent on irrigation kits; $8 million for trucking water; and $3 million on mulch.
Green said a decision on the vegetable seeds was made in light of the increasing adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture, which are being seen in the unpredictable rainfall patterns and increased pest infestation.
“We are distributing high-quality, climate-resilient vegetable seeds to farmers across the country. These seeds are carefully selected to withstand varying climatic conditions, ensuring a more reliable and sustainable food supply,” he disclosed.
Grants for fishers
Meanwhile, under a separate programme, 50 youth, including females, will be provided with grants of up to $120,000 for qualified fishers under age 35. The fishers must have been operating in the industry for more than three years and have been duly registered as a fisher. Members of Parliament with fishing beaches, local community organisations, including fishing groups, will be asked to make nominations for the most suitable candidates. Selected individuals must provide a proposal on how they intend to improve their business with the grant.
As an incentive to offshore fishers who operate in areas such as the Pedro and Morant banks, safety, communication, and navigation equipment, including life jackets, marine VHF radios, and GPS devices will be provided for an estimated 500 fisher folk.
Support is also being provided to fishers who have been identified as most in need of external assistance, which will see up to 600 fishers being provided with fishing gear valued at $20,000 each.
This is open to fishers from all the parishes, and selection will be based on recommendations from the community associations and verified by the National Fisheries Authority’s extension officers.
Green also disclosed that 11,460 farmers have been trained in on-farm water harvesting, conservation and management, and the care of selected crops and livestock by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the National Irrigation Commission, and the Agro-Invest Corporation, with the Social Development Commission, the Jamaica Bauxite Institute, and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund providing assistance.