‘This is like gold’

“Even a mug is very important in the country area to store water, so imagine a water drum.” These words from Vincent Rhoden, a farmer from Coffee Piece, St Mary, encapsulate the daily struggle of rural farmers in Jamaica who face persistent water shortages. In many communities, access to water is limited to specific days, and the ability to store water can mean the difference between sustaining crops and watching them wither. Understanding this, the Desnoes & Geddes (D&G) Foundation has ramped up its efforts under its Growing with Communities initiative, recently delivering 35 water drums to farmers in St Mary.

This donation marks the second batch of drums provided by the foundation, as part of its six-month water storage initiative which was launched on World Water Day. The initiative aims to mitigate the impact of erratic water supply on small farmers who rely on consistent irrigation for their livelihoods.

For this latest donation, the D&G Foundation partnered with the Restoring Agriculture, Investing in Sustainable Enterprise (RAISE) programme, which identified and coordinated the distribution of the water drums to participating farmers. The RAISE programme, designed to alleviate poverty in the Highgate region, provides each of its 12 farmers with three acres of land, along with resources and advisory support to help them cultivate and manage their farms independently.

“RAISE was designed to empower farmers by giving them autonomy while offering essential resources such as delivery services, tools, and marketing support. The water drums provided by the D&G Foundation are a critical addition, ensuring that farmers can maintain their crops even during periods of drought,” said the farm manager for the RAISE programme, Jeffrey Thompson, in outlining the initiative’s impact.

For farmers like Rhoden, the donation represents a safeguard against uncertainty. “A lot of people here don’t have a drum right now, so this is like gold. We get water every Tuesday – that’s water day. But you never know how long a drought will last. Having these drums means I can store water and not have to worry about dry spells. It even helps with organic farming. I really like what D&G [Foundation] is doing.”

Another farmer, Seymour Thomas of Bellefield Road, shared his relief, “I’ve had a little drought problem for a couple of months now, so these drums will help a lot. We can fill them from the pipe and have storage for times like these.”

For some, access to water is about progress and not mere survival. Exford Campbell, who began as a farm assistant in the RAISE programme, now cultivates his own three acres of land. Reflecting on his journey, he expressed gratitude for the support: “Farming is an interesting thing, and now I have land to put in my own crops. I really appreciate this help, and I thank you all. God bless the D&G Foundation!”

“At the D&G Foundation, we understand that sustainability isn’t solely about planting crops – it’s about securing the resources farmers need to thrive. Water is fundamental to life and livelihood, and we are proud to contribute to the resilience of farmers who are the backbone of Jamaica’s food security,” said foundation accountant Dennis Beckford.