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European Union Banana Support Programme (EUBSP)
Project Name: EU Banana Support Programme (EUBSP)
Project Authority: National Authorising Officer (NAO), Minister of Finance (MOF)
Duration: 2002 to 2009
Implementation Date:
- Special System of Assistance (SSA) for traditional ACP suppliers, Phase I (Nov 1995- Jun 1999)
- SSA, Phase II (Dec 95-Dec 1999)
- SSA, Phase III (March 1997 - December 2000)
- Special Framework of Assistance (SFA), Application Year 1999 (Oct 2000 – July 2002)
- SFA, Application Year 2000 (Feb 2001– Dec 2004)
- SFA, Application Year 2001, (Dec 2001- December 2004)
Source of Funding: European Union (see below)
EU
Funding
(EUR) |
Phase I |
Phase II |
Phase III |
SFA 1999 |
SFA 2000 |
SFA 2001 |
Total |
Decided |
1,993,496 |
3,048,650 |
5,774,111 |
5,300,000 |
5,300,000 |
5,000,000 |
26,416,257 |
Overall Objectives
The Council Regulation (EC) No 856/1999, establishing the Special Framework of Assistance (SFA) for traditional ACP suppliers of bananas, was published on 22 April 1999. The Regulation provides for financial and technical assistance to twelve ACP countries (including Jamaica), taking account of changes in the marketing arrangements for bananas in Europe following a World Trade Organization decision against the banana regime in 1998. The special framework of assistance is foreseen to be implemented for a period not exceeding ten years starting on 1 January 1999.
The overall intention of the Council Regulation is that “the financial and technical assistance should help ACP banana production to improve competitiveness and/or to support diversification where improvement in the competitiveness of the banana sector is not sustainable.
Programme Objective and Purpose
Within this SFA, the Government of Jamaica prepared the 1999 Banana Country Strategy (BCS) aimed at developing a more competitive banana industry over this period. Given the increasingly competitive environment and the development observed in the banana market, the GOJ has reviewed the BCS, in particular regarding the approach taken to improve the competitiveness of the Banana Industry and the introduction of alternative activities (Diversification Component) for those farmers that are unlikely to achieve competitiveness.
The overall objective of the EU BSP Jamaica is to promote sustainable development in the traditional banana growing areas of Jamaica, and the Programme purpose is to maintain living standards of farmers in those areas in the short term and to improve these living standards in the long term.
Location and Target Group
The Programme is being implemented in the banana producing parishes of Jamaica. At least 350 farmers and 3,200 farm workers will directly benefit from the Programme. This includes small farmers formerly involved in Banana Production for export but had to cease activities due to the liberalization of the market. The Programme is therefore contributing to the livelihood of 16,000 to 20,000 rural family members. The Programme’s beneficiaries include banana farmers and farm workers indirectly benefiting
Stakeholders are:
- Banana Export Company Ltd (BECo);
- Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and its extension arm Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA)
- Banana Board, the regulatory body for the sector;
- Planning Institute of Jamaica (the DNAO-Office)
Project Results
The following are the expected Programme results:
- Improved farm infrastructure on large estates and smaller farms (overhead guying systems installed, packing stations upgraded, fully functional water management systems, old fields replanted with improved plant material).
- Efficient drainage equipment available to small farmers at reduced costs;
- More flexible shipping arrangements in place will limit dead freight.
- Recommendations available and disseminated on improved agricultural practices and on the use of new fertilizers and chemicals, resulting in their better usage and low incidence of fungus resistance to chemicals; Fully operational Farm Certification Unit established;
- Younger adequately populated plantations with lower disease pressure and adequate plant nutrition established;
- Application of improved practices and new technologies by small and medium size farmers in compliance with EU chemical usage standards and hygiene requirements;
- Adherence to standard production and harvesting protocols on most farms;
- Low incidence of Black Sigatoka and other pests;
- Plantain production as a niche market alternative to standard bananas developed (jointly implemented in the context of the EU Eastern Jamaica Agriculture Support Programme, EJASP).
- Rural development activities introduced and local economy diversified.
Project Activities
The EU BSP is being implemented through Work Programmes by the Banana Export Company Ltd (BECo), a private company owned by all Jamaican Banana Exporters, including the following components:
- Phase I: Input Supply, Water Management and Disease Control;
- Phase II: Water Management, Disease Control and Information Systems;
- Phase III: Water Management, Fruit Quality Preservation, Research and Technology Transfer Unit.
The new allocations under the forthcoming 10-year SFA are carrying forward and expanding the 2001 activities under the 1999 and 2000 SFA allocation, with a stronger focus on both improved on-farm infrastructure and marketing in the banana industry, together with rural diversification in bananas growing area,s from bananas to plantain. The 2001 SFA Financing Agreement was approved by the European Commission, and includes the Diversification component.
The EUBSP represents a very comprehensive and holistic approach to strengthening the various institutional, agronomic and post-harvesting aspects of banana production in Jamaica. The main activities are the following:
1) Technical Assistance
- Technology Transfer Unit (TTU), the objective of which is to promote an accurate and consistent application of a known set of cultural, harvesting and processing practices, the safe usage of complex chemicals and equipment, and the adoption of strict hygiene precautions and promoting new technologies for the commercial production of bananas.
- Water Management Unit (WMU), focusing on the utilization of correct water management System (drainage, soil conservation and, where possible, irrigation).
- Research Department (RD), aimed at guaranteeing that the most advanced techniques or products are tested and adapted to Jamaican conditions and made available for transfer to the producers; that the production systems in use in Jamaica are closely monitored in order to anticipate possible problems and; that the requirements for Farm Certification are satisfied by all export farmers.
- Disease Management Unit (DMU), assisting all banana growers to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of Sigatoka Control through the provision of technical assistance and professional, subsidized spraying services.
- Plantain Replanting Programme, focusing on the diversification of banana lands within the banana sector.
- Literacy Programme, a comprehensive education and/or training programme for banana plantation employees aims to improving the efficiency and productivity of the workforce. The Employee Education and Training Programme is initiating in each of three major.
- Project Management Unit (PMU), created for the duration of the EU BSP to manage, supervise and monitor the Project. The Banana Export Company (BECo) will continue to take the lead in implementing this Project.
2) Financial Services
- Investment Fund, established to facilitate on-farm investments and investments meant to improve the general environment in which the farms operate.
- Supplies: 2)55 cool containers procured under the EUBSP, irrigation systems, cable-ways, packing stations, farm equipment, agro-input supplies
Other: Studies to Carry Out Activities meant to:
- Support the development of niche markets in the UK (1999 FA); and
- To implement "a study to develop and establish an efficient private-sector based insurance system covering damage of banana plantations" (2000 FA)
Project Administration
The National Authorising Officer (NAO) is the Minister of Finance, which delegates in the Planning Institute of Jamaica (DNAO).
Banana Exporter Company Ltd (BECo) is responsible of the day to day supervision of the Programme implementation. The Project Management Unit (PMU) led by the Project Manager and composed by technical experts and support staff is managing the EUBSP. Annual Work Programmes (AWP) are prepared by the PMU and contain details of the activities, elaborated targets and budgets. The PMU have operational autonomy for implementation and is held responsible for meeting targets.
A Project Steering Committee (PSC), chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the MOA and comprising also, at least, the NAO or his representative, the Head of the EC Delegation or his representative and a representative of BECo will ensure that the national strategy for the banana sector, as presented to the European Commission, is being complied with.
Contact:
The European Union Banana Support Programme (BSP)
Boundbrook Wharf
Port Antonio, Portland
Tel: (876)993–4245, 993–4247
Fax:(876)993–4246
1A Braemar Avenue, Kingston 10, Jamaica, WI
Tel: (876)978–5758, (876)978–8762–3
Fax: (876)978–6096
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