What is the SPAD project?

Farmers in the parishes of Clarendon and St. Catherine are set to benefit from the availability of repurposed sugarcane lands to plant various crops under the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project (SPAD). The project seeks to provide and enhance irrigation systems and services to an estimated 795 hectares of land in Parnassus (Clarendon) and Bridge Pen/Amity Hall (St. Catherine). The project is comprised of six components including infrastructure works, engineering and construction-related services; and project management. The project total is £17.1 million partly funded by the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Development Fund (UKCIF) and administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), with counterpart funding of £390,000 by the Government of Jamaica and is expected to benefit small and medium-sized farmers.

The first project proposal was completed in 2018 in conjunction with the National Irrigation Commission (NIC). Handover of the project to Agro Invest for Agricultural Development and Enhanced Productivity has a projected date of June 30, 2023.

Agro Invest will spearhead leasing land to commercially oriented farmers including women and youth. The project will offer direct social and gender benefits for small and medium-sized commercial agricultural enterprises through improved access to agricultural resources; technical expertise; organizational strengthening and female and male farmers’ capacity building in the rural communities of Amity Hall and Parnassus.

The project essentially was developed to enhance the agricultural production and marketing systems, strengthen the capacity of the producer/s group, enhance the agricultural value chain, capacity building, and establishment of a Matching Grant Scheme.

Agro-Invest’s Role and Responsibilities as it relates to the SPAD Project

Agro Invest coordinated the development of the initial project documents and will have management control of the property and facilities at the end of the project, hence the Corporation has played an integral role in the implementation process.

Under the Project, Agro Invest will be responsible for providing access to (i) land, inputs, and technical services (ii) financing for small-scale farmers through a Matching Grant Scheme; (iii) market arrangements through the establishment of both horizontal and vertical linkages between rural farmers/producer groups and larger commercial farms, Agro processors, distributors and exporters; and (iv) training in the good use, operations, and maintenance of investments in on-farm irrigation equipment and facilities. This multifaceted approach will enhance both the sustainability and profitability of commercial farming while boosting social equity and safeguarding against environmental degradation.

Fundamentally Agro Invest will be responsible for:

  • Agricultural Development
  • Sub-Division of land
  • Market Linkage
  • Provision of Lease Agreements
  • Determination of crops to be cultivated
  • Group Clustering
  • Tractor Service
  • Global Gap Facilitation (G-GAP)
  • Establishment of Storage, Packing and Agro-Processing Facilities
  • Institution of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices (CSA)
  • Development of a Steering Committee to assist in the establishment of the Matching Grant Scheme
  • Enhancement of the Agricultural Value Chain
  • Ensure increased productivity and access to markets in the project areas

The Matching Grant Scheme (MGS) is an important component of the project and will seek to assist agricultural producers, including vulnerable groups (females and youth) within the respective Agro Parks. Agro Invest will establish a Steering Committee to develop criteria for the provision of on-farm irrigation systems. A communication campaign will be developed to raise awareness of the MGS among small-scale males, females, youth, and persons with disabilities farmer/farming groups.

CURRENT STATUS OF THE PROJECT:

Well-drilling is in progress at Parnassus. Engineering design for roads, irrigation, and drainage has been completed.

Agro Invest has held several meetings with informal settlers from the Parnassus area and has been sensitizing them on the role that the Corporation will play as well as assisting them with the requirements for leasing land so that their farms will be up and running on the completion of the project. A Steering Committee for the Matching Grant Scheme (MGS) Chaired by the CEO of Agro Invest has reviewed the Terms of Reference for a consultant to develop the Matching Grant Scheme. The second draft of the design for the Produce handling and Agro-Processing facility is being reviewed.