Farmer Jervis Rowe (centre) shows tomatoes growing in a greenhouse that he acquired through the Jamaica Business Recovery Project (JBRP) on his farm in Hopeton, Manchester. Looking on are: Cyril Chambers (left), project development officer and Garnet Malcolm, general manager of AgroGrace. - CONTRIBUTED
TWO YEARS ago Doreen Williams would have been satisfied with reaping five tons of carrots per acre on her farm in Munroe, St Elizabeth. Today she reaps 15 tons per acre as a result of techniques learned through the Jamaica Business Recovery Project (JBRP).
The one-year project, which was implemented in 2005, was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by FINTRAC and the Jamaica Exporters Association, with Agro Grace as a partner in the provision of agricultural inputs.
PROJECT AIM
The project aimed to rehabilitate small and medium sized farms affected by Hurricane Ivan. Farmers in the most affected parishes received assistance in replacing lost or damaged equipment and materials. They were shown how to improve their yields through the use of new, productivity enhancing, and environmentally sustainable technologies.
Some of the new technologies introduced to participating farmers included drip irrigation and fertigation (applying fertiliser through irrigation water). Farmers were also shown how to use seedling trays for producing seedlings, improved insect and disease-control methods, proper nutritional techniques including the use of vitamins. Some participants were assisted in constructing greenhouses, which provided a controlled environment for growing their crop.
O'Neil Williams of Bushy Park St. Catherine is a scotch bonnet producer who survived the heavy rains of Hurricane Wilma last October. In the early days he simply scattered pepper seeds into the ground. Those that were sturdy survived.
WHAT HAS CHANGED
Now all that has changed, says Mr. Williams. "Currently we plant seedlings in trays that contain 200 seedlings. Then we plant them in rows on raised beds (which) are two rows in beds that are five feet apart," he explained. "This plant density enables easier nurturing of seedlings as we apply fertilisers, herbicides and vitamins more efficiently. As a result we are now enjoying higher output levels," he explained further.
Jervis Rowe of Hopeton, Manchester has a similar story. A sweet pepper and tomato farmer, he used to plant his sweet pepper seedlings directly into the ground. According to Mr. Reid, who now has a greenhouse "with the new system, the seedlings now have a low mortality rate." he explained. "Whereas in the old days we reaped five pounds of tomatoes per plant, we are now reaping 15 pounds per plant," he added.
Doreen Williams said "now that I have a greenhouse, my reaping cycles have increased substantially." She explained that "I started reaping this crop in the first week of December (2005) and up to mid-March I am still reaping."
