Editorial | Strengthening rural development

The concerns raised by Kenneth Russell, need to be paid attention to, and tangible solutions put in place on rural development in Jamaica. 
“... If you live in rural areas, you are four times more likely to live in poverty,” Dr Russell, the opposition spokesperson on rural development said in his presentation to the parliament. Rural development, according to him, is not central to the country’s national policy.
His observations highlighted are gaps in access to basic services. According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), 56 per cent of rural households have safely managed drinking water compared with 87.2 per cent in urban areas. Internet access is 76.8 per cent compared with 86.8 per cent in urban areas. While Dr Russell, in his presentation, said that computer ownership is 18.4 per cent in rural Jamaica compared with 31.5 per cent in urban areas.  
“Things are worse off if you live in rural Jamaica!” Russell said. 
Rural Jamaica is home to nearly half of the island’s population, the source of much of the island’s food production, a repository of its cultural heritage and an important contributor to tourism, manufacturing and natural resource management. The uneven development is leaving many rural communities with fewer opportunities, weaker infrastructure and limited access to services than their urban counterparts.
Addressing that imbalance demands focused policy discussions and strategic frameworks for transformation.
Successive administrations have invested in farm roads, rural water systems, housing, broadband expansion, social infrastructure and community development. Indeed, myriad programmes have been implemented through the Social Development Commission, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, the National Housing Trust, and the Ministry of Local Government.  However, these interventions have often been incremental when the situation requires sustained depth and breath.
EXPOSED CHINKS
Hurricane Melissa exposed chinks in rural development initiatives, not least of which is the need to accelerate solution to the issue of land tenure in many parts of Jamaica.
Recovery and rebuilding rural areas resiliently can’t be just a slogan. It should mean that the residents of these communities, especially young people, must see a future in them. 
Investment in agro-processing, renewable energy, community tourism, technical and vocational education, digital services and small business development can create employment while reducing migration from rural communities, by helping more wealth circulating within local economies rather than flowing elsewhere.
This newspaper maintains that national development cannot be measured solely by progress made in Kingston or other urban centres. 
The government should consider strengthening rural infrastructure with:
– climate-resilient farm roads
– improved drainage systems
– bridges designed to withstand extreme rainfall
– reliable potable water
– expanded broadband connectivity
– street lighting in rural town centres
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining should expand on its efforts at promoting value-added agriculture and supporting systems such as:
– agro-processing facilities
– cold storage and packing houses
– digital farming technologies
– climate-smart agriculture
– irrigation expansion
– crop insurance
– precision agriculture using drones and satellite monitoring
ADDITIONAL THRUSTS
New and additional thrusts may be considered for strengthening rural entrepreneurship. Small business incubators could be established in rural parish capitals. Also skills training, development of rural digital hubs, promoting community tourism to include: 
– heritage trails         – farm tourism
– culinary tourism        – eco-tourism
– cultural festivals        – river attractions
– birdwatching        – hiking destinations
These initiatives would benefit local communities and locally owned enterprises.
Additionally, to stem youth migration, the government should consider expanding:
– apprenticeship programmes
–innovation grants
– youth entrepreneurship funds
– agricultural technology competitions
– internships
– digital skills training
Young people are more likely to remain in rural communities when they can build viable careers there.
Balanced rural development also requires better access to:
– healthcare
– early childhood education
– secondary schools
– policing
– public transportation
– banking
– postal services
– childcare
Quality public services will improve both quality of life and investor confidence.
The Planning Institute of Jamaica should develop a Rural Development Index to measure progress across indicators:
– employment        – household income
– Internet access        – water supply
– education outcomes    – healthcare access
– business creation    – disaster resilience
– environmental quality    Successful rural economies — including those in Japan, New Zealand and the Netherlands — focus on rural development through coordinated investment in infrastructure, skills, enterprise, technology and community resilience.
“Community development is ultimately about ensuring that every person has a voice, every community has agency, and every citizen has the opportunity to participate in shaping their future,” Dr Russell said.
For Jamaica, the objective should be to create vibrant rural communities that are partners in national growth and development.