EJASP - MOA

Project Name: Eastern Jamaica Agricultural Support Project (EJASP)

Project Authority: Ministry of Agriclture

Duration: 4 Years

Implementation Date: January 2000

Total Project Cost: EUR 8,000,000 (J$ 320,000,000)

Sources of Funding: European Union: EUR 6,900,000 (J$ 276,000,000)

GoJ: EUR 1,100,000 (J$ 44,000,000)

Building on the successes of and lessons learned from the Project's successor, the Morant-Yallahs Agricultural Development Project (MYADP), financed by the 7th European Development Fund (EDF), EJASP aims at reducing poverty in rural communities while having regard to the sustainable use of the resource base.

The project purpose is to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farm households through sustainable and environmentally positive production methods and improved marketing. The Project therefore aims to devise, test and replicate sustainable group-based and market-led methods for increasing the income of small-scale farm households.

The Project is implementing in four parishes in Eastern Jamaica, St Andrew, St Thomas, Portland and St Mary, and about 5,600 of the small-scale farmers in this area (20% of the total number of farmers), of whom at least 1,000 are women, will benefit directly from it.

Marketed proportion of agricultural production increased and wastage reduced through improved information flows to farmers.
Farmers associations with viable organizational structure formed and developed.
Sustainable group-based Sub-Projects implemented for the development of income generating and market-led activities by farmers association.
Sustainable agricultural production systems introduced and/or improved.
Rural extension services strengthened.
Rural communities more aware of environmental protection measures.

The Project is characterised by a series of activities covering the following main areas:

Extension and Training;
Market Information Systems and Marketing;
Selection and Implementation of group-based, market-led Sub-Projects;
Monitoring and Evaluation / Project Management.

Two million and nine hundred thousand Euro (EUR 2,9) are being provided to finance some 70 group-based Sub-Projects. EJASP is working in close consultation with the communities designing and implementing the multi-faceted Sub-Projects to overcome those needs with the highest priority, increase production and productivity of crops which have a distinct competitive advantage in the domestic, tourism, and non-traditional export market places, is an example.

This includes the financing of tree seedlings, improved seeds, storage and processing facilities, farm roads rehabilitation, agro-forestry, small-scale irrigation, small livestock development, agricultural marketing and community education.

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority is the implementing agency and supervises the investments through the Project Management Unit (PMU). The PMU is led by the Project Manager and comprises the four RADA Parish Managers, seven local Technical Advisers, and two European Technical Advisers recruited by the Project.

The PMU is accountable to the Project Steering Committee (PSC) which is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). The PSC ensures that overall direction of the Project is in line with government priorities and that implementation progress is reviewed regularly against agreed targets. The PSC also approves Sub-Projects recommended by the PMU for implementation. Active farmer participation in the decision making process is achieved through RADA’s Area Development Committees and parish-level representation on the PSC.