PRESS RELEASE
Kingston,
Jamaica – May 2, 2013:
Dozens of farmers in eastern Jamaica are crediting the Economic
Diversification Programme for Banana Producing Parishes with
creating increased income generation for them and their communities, during the
17-month-life of the Programme. Despite some setbacks due to the ravages of
Hurricane Sandy, the farmers in Esher, St. Mary and Somerset, St. Thomas who
are engaged in the Programme have reaped bumper-yields of over 50,000 pounds of
scotch bonnet peppers, 39 gallons of honey and 26 new born goats.
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| Esher Farmer Delroy Robinson inspects the sweet pepper plants on his farm. He is one of 40 farmers engaged in the Economic Diversification Programme For Banana Producing Parishes. |
EMPOWERING
FARMERS
The Economic Diversification Programme For Banana Producing Parishes is financed by the European Union Banana Support Programme (EUBSP) and
implemented by Food For The Poor (FFP). The
Ministry of Agriculture and the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA)
are supporting partners. The Programme
provided the farmers with materials, training and technical support necessary
to engage in sustainable production of scotch bonnet peppers, goats and
bees/honey.
The communities which have benefited
were traditionally devoted to banana production, and were previously suffering
from a dramatic downturn in their income due to a decline in the banana
industry. The Economic Diversification Programme has stimulated economic
empowerment for the farmers by generating alternative earning opportunities for
them.
RESOUNDING ENDORSEMENT
Outlining
the benefits which he and his community have derived from the programme.
Orville Wright, beneficiary farmer in Somerset, said, “It has impacted the
community in a positive way.” Mr Wright explained that other members of the
community who are not beneficiary farmers have also benefited, as they work
along with the 20 beneficiaries in the area. “It’s an excellent programme and
the farmers are grateful for this investment. Even now, beneficiaries are still
excited.”
Delroy Robinson, beneficiary farmer in Esher, has also given the
Programme a resounding endorsement: “It increased our knowledge about farming
and farming practices.” Mr. Robinson declared that owing to the programme, he
has learnt a new sustainable farming method, “I never dreamed of engaging in
bee production and I never realized just how much one could earn from it. Now
bee production is part of my life and it is helping to sustain my family.”
FOOD FOR THE POOR ONGOING SUPPORT
Ron Burgess, Senior Director – Recipient Services, FFP, explained that
despite being adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy which destroyed
approximately 85 per cent of the pepper plants, the recipient farmers were
still able to make good returns on their reduced crop due to an increase in
demand. “FFP assisted farmers
who have suffered losses, to resuscitate their production,” Mr. Burgess
reported.
He added,
“It was a great pleasure partnering with the European Union on this venture and
I am very happy and delighted with the results and the transformation it
brought to many Jamaican lives.”
Selena Ledgister-Kellier, Manager -
Agriculture and Fishing, FFP, echoed similar sentiments: “Forty farmers between Esher and
Somerset who participated in the Food For The Poor and European Union
Programme, have all come out smiling, appreciative and transformed from this
venture. Food For The Poor has once again proven what partnerships can do when
Jamaicans come together and how beneficial and life-changing our Agriculture
Programme is to this country.”
EUBSP DELIGHTED OVER ACHIEVEMENTS
The EUBSP
has expressed delight about the dynamic and effective partnership between
itself, FFP and RADA which led to the successful implementation of the
Programme. Shaun Baugh, Director of Corporate Planning,
Monitoring and Evaluation/ RADA EUBSP Coordinator asserted: “RADA through the
EUBSP would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our partner,
FFP on successfully implementing the economic diversification and employment
creation in the traditional banana producing parishes.”
He explained
that by assisting farmers displaced by the decline in the banana industry in
eastern Jamaica and other parishes, the EUBSP supported agricultural and
non-agricultural enterprises, as well as other rural development activities.
“These projects are expected to improve rural income and ensure sustainability
by utilising and building synergies between state entities, private sector and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs),” stated Mr. Baugh. “To date, we have
invested over J$ 4 billion in projects ranging from infrastructure development,
economic enablement, agricultural technology transfer, social development and
skill training, education, capacity building, bananas marketing and production
as well as agricultural risk and disaster management.”
MAJOR BENEFITS
TO FARMERS
The
major achievements of the Economic Diversification Programme for Banana
Producing Parishes are as follows:
Education of farmers in best practices
in agriculture
Income generation opportunities through
the production of new crops and the rearing of livestock
Increase in the profitability of farmers
Provision of guidelines on
post-harvesting and marketing of farm products
The establishment of Farmers’
Associations
Implementation of marketing strategies
for farmers in Somerset and Esher.
CLOSING
CEREMONY
The
Economic Diversification Programme was officially launched in June 2012. On
Thursday, May 16 this year, the Closing Ceremony for the Programme will be held
at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Esher. The Keynote Speaker will be Hon.
Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture.
-End –
About EU Banana Support Programme
The EUBSP promotes sustainable development in
banana growing areas of Jamaica. Since its inception, it has been investing in
the banana parishes of St. James, Clarendon, St. Thomas, St. Catherine,
Portland and St. Mary in an effort to maintain living standards and social and
economic development. The primary beneficiaries are
displaced banana farmers, farm workers, port workers and their families and by extension
the communities.
About Food For The Poor
Food
For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is
the largest charity organization in the country. Food For The Poor Inc.,
located in Florida, USA, was named by The
Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international
relief and development organization in the United States. It is an
interdenominational Christian agency that does much more than feed the millions
of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. FFP provides
emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials,
homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise
development assistance, with more than 96% of all donations going directly to programmes
that help the poor
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