Programme Title:

Improving Jamaica’s Agricultural Productivity (IJAP) Project

Location:

Island wide

Executing Agency:

Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries

Implementing Agencies:

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA)

Project Duration:

October 2008 – December 2011

Project Cost:

J$ 189,064,056

Funding Agencies:

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

Government of Jamaica (GoJ)

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

 Problems Addressed:

The “Greenhouse Component” of the IJAP Project seeks to address issues related to low production and productivity, high prices, inconsistent supply and variable quality which has characterized local vegetable production for decades. The use of applied research, development and technology, the promotion of environmentally friendly production practices, sound knowledge management and transfer, and building post harvest management capabilities are among the measures being applied to address the challenges in vegetable production.

Project Objectives:

Improve productivity of Jamaican farmers through application of greenhouse technology
Increase the sustainable production and distribution of high quality vegetables to meet the demands of the Jamaican market. 

Main Activities:

• Research and Development
• Training and Technical Assistance
• Establishment of two (2) structured distribution mechanisms i.e. post harvest and packaging facilities
• Commercial deployment of forty (40) greenhouses

Achievements:

• Pre-project assessments (gender, environment impact) carried out
• Beneficiaries selected, project management unit established
• Training of 35 extension officers and 35 farmers done
• Jamaica Greenhouse Design manual developed, available to farmers/investors
• Forty 3,000 sq. ft. greenhouses completed; installation scheduled for October 2009