An operator undertaking work during the ground breaking ceremony of an irrigation project in St. Elizabeth on Wednesday. -Carlington Wilmot photo
Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:
FARMERS IN south St. Elizabeth have welcomed the ground breaking for the installation of the Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme in the Little Park area of the parish on Wednesday.
"I am happy for the effort to have irrigation water to the farmers which would help us to boost our production of the crops we produce. I am really grateful for this," said Derrick Blackwood, a farmer of Short Hill district.
Harold Campbell told The Gleaner that he and other farmers in the area have been waiting for the irrigation scheme for more than 30 years, but he cautioned that the cost of the water was a concern, as it will definitely be a factor when the water starts flowing.
"This would help us to produce significantly more than we have being doing over the years in crops such as water melon, pineapple, escallion, carrot among others," Mr. Campbell added.
PRESSURISED IRRIGATION
The Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme involves the construction of a major new pressurised irrigation system in the Deacon and Little Park areas of the parish. The contract was awarded to M&M Jamaica Limited for $53.5 million.
Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson noted that." From the early days, successive administrations have been talking about Pedro Plains irrigation. As prime minister, I was determined to ensure that this was one of the projects for national development that would be undertaken during my watch."
Mr. Patterson explained that without adequate and reliable water supplies, farmers cannot satisfy the needs of the domestic
market. Neither can they hope to compete forcefully in the export market in a globalised world when there is not a sufficient and constant source of water.
For his part, MP for south west St. Elizabeth, Donald Buchanan, said a dream had been realised for him and the hardworking farmers of the southern plain of St. Elizabeth.
