One hundred farmers will undergo training as trainers and then will be able to reach another 5,000 of their colleagues. Work on the schools is expected to start this month, following last month’s $21.7 million contract signing by the Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change and Isratech.

“The overarching aim is to empower the farmers by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills which will build resilience to the impacts of climate-related hazards. The farmers will be trained to disseminate their knowledge to other farmers in the communities [which is] aimed at improving farming practices,” said portfolio minister, Pearnel Charles Jr, at the contract signing.

The Farmer Field school activity will be implemented over the next seven months and is being implemented under the activities of the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism for the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience.

The programme was developed by the Government of Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank, as part of the country’s Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience with the overall goal of increasing Jamaica’s resilience to climate change.

Charles emphasised that the project is critical to the Upper Minho Watershed area, which has been categorised as severely degraded by the National Environment and Planning Agency.

This categorisation, he indicated, has resulted from unsustainable farming and land use practices, as well as the exploitation of minerals, which have had a deleterious impact on the environment in the area.

CASE initially received a grant from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, through the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP &FM) for the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience, to build the aquaponics system. The aquaponics farm now enables practical experience for students studying agriculture at the institution ,while also boosting income earning for the institution.

Markland Murphy, director of projects and research coordinator at CASE, explained that the institution had maximised the use of the space for the aquaponics farm by adding pipes to assist with growing more produce, in addition to the regular farm beds.

The technique seems to be working and Murphy is anticipating being able to supply 7,000 pounds of lettuce every four weeks, if things go according to plan. The CASE team is already talking with several potential buyers for the produce.

Aquaponics, which is seen as a climate-smart agricultural practice, has been known to boosts crop production up to 10 times higher than traditionally cultivated plots of equivalent size. It uses 85 per cent to 90 per cent less water and no chemical fertilisers or pesticides. It is low-energy consumption, providing year-round crop production and uses much less labour than traditional farming.

The aquaponics system is a part of the activities undertaken under the AP&FM to help to reduce Jamaica’s vulnerability to climate change. The AP&FM receives funding from the Inter-American Development Bank through the Climate Investment Funds.

“Winning this award was made possible by the commitment, dedication and hard work of the members of the project executing unit, comprising Kay de Ann Taffe Dixon, Angella Lalor, Mauro Lewis, Indi Mclymont-Lafayette, and Bridgette Barrett,” noted Project Manager Dr Winsome Townsend, in expressing her delight for the recognition.

She was speaking after the award presentation during a virtual ceremony last month.

The IDB has 56 funded projects in Jamaica and in 2019 issued the challenge to determine the best project execution unit in the country. It used two new reporting tools – the Schedule Performance Index and the Cost Performance Index – to measure the effectiveness of project implementation. It also used accumulated disbursements and value of good practice as two other criteria for performance.

As part of Jamaica’s PPCR, the AP&FM works to help the nation adjust more easily to climate change. It supports the integration of climate-change issues into development planning by government agencies and the implementation of climate-change adaptation measures across Jamaica. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and is funded by the Climate Investment Fund through the IDB and the Government of Jamaica.

To date, the achievements of the AP&FM-PPCR include:

• Reforestation of 15 hectares of forestlands in the Pennants community in Upper Rio Minho Watershed (URMW) Area, Clarendon;

• Fifty acres of agro-forestry established on 60 farms in upper Clarendon;

• Construction of 1,517 of 1,800 innovative check dams called MICRO (Multiple Interceptions for Climate Resilience Optimisation) check dams;

• Five Aquaponics farming systems established in five communities (Aenon Town, Alston, James Hill, John’s Hall and Ritchies) in northern Clarendon;

• Vulnerability assessment of the entire Rio Minho Watershed Area;

• Preparation of a climate adaptation plan for the entire Rio Minho Watershed Area;

• Vulnerability assessments of 15 priority communities in the URMW; and

• Preparation of climate change adaptation/disaster risk-reduction plans for 15 priority communities in the URMW.

Other improvements include:

• The US$4.7-million worth of grant funding provided for over 135 grants distributed to non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations;

• Over US$2.5-million worth of loan financing provided for 259 loans at 4% interest rate granted to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises;

• Sixty climate change focal points from ministries and the municipal corporations trained to mainstream climate change into development planning;

• Implementation of a climate change awareness programme for policymakers and government ministries, which saw 229 decision takers and policymakers trained in 14 workshops.

The project has also see the preparation of seven technical papers of relevance to spatial planning in Jamaica; and the preparation of a national spatial plan that incorporates climate change considerations.

“What today’s launch of the White River Fish Sanctuary represents is sustainable tourism, where we take a holistic approach to the sector’s current and future economic, social and environmental impacts,” noted Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett, speaking at the opening on August 13.

“In taking this holistic approach, we are also addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and communities, and building meaningful public-private sector partnerships,” he added.

“Though I am no marine biologist, the data also highlight that with the establishment of the fish sanctuary, we will see an increase in the population of fish in our waters that will be beneficial for livelihoods and help restore our reefs,” he said further.

The operation of the fish sanctuary has been made possible, in part, through a partnership, valued at some J$15 million, between the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the White River Marine Association (WRMA).

Among other things, the partnership has seen the construction of the new office, together with the employment of fishermen as sanctuary wardens, and the purchase of enforcement and other equipment.

“The main objective of the wardens is to stop all fishing or the taking of any live organisms from within the sanctuary. With this new source of alternative income for the fishermen, we are excited to be supporting the livelihoods of many members of the community until sustainable fishing returns,” noted Kyle Mais, director of the WRMA.

The sanctuary also employs an accounting administrator, a manager, and a marine biologist.

Meanwhile, operations of the sanctuary have also seen five coral nurseries set up since June 2017 to grow 1,400 pieces of staghorn and elkhorn corals as part of a five-phase, five-year programme funded by a grant from the Special Climate Change Adaptation Fund.

Already, more than 700 pieces of coral have been planted, and the nurseries reseeded with the corals which show resilience to the bleaching events.

“These direct and indirect benefits of launching the sanctuary also speak to the rich value chain that tourism offers when linkages are strengthened. What this means is that many people along the value chain will benefit from this project,” the minister said.

“From our reports, there has also been an increase in the number of glass-bottom boats seen within the sanctuary that use the coral nursery as an attraction and also to educate tourists. As is being displayed through this project, tourism can be linked with national poverty-reduction strategies by providing income through job creation and facilitating entrepreneurial development at the local and community levels,” Bartlett said.

“We can also attest to the fact that greater engagement between tourism and local communities can also help protect or revive our natural assets and intangible cultural heritage. As this sanctuary grows and flourishes, so will the community and, ultimately, tourism activities surrounding it,” he added.

Stakeholder Collaboration

Mais has urged collaboration between existing and new stakeholders for the continued work of the sanctuary, particularly given the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Organisations like the White River Fish Sanctuary are rapidly facing a critical threat from this pandemic, due to funding constraints which risk forcing us to downsize and lay off staff at the precise moment when our work has become vitally important,” he said.

“Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic requires even greater cooperation among government agencies, local and international organisations and the business community, which is at the centre of the White River Fish Sanctuary fundraising mission for public-private cooperation,” he added.

The US$4.875-million five-year World Bank-funded initiative aims to enhance climate resilient practices among targeted fishing and fish-farming communities across Jamaica in a bid to strengthen the sector through several engagements.

These include investment and diversification in fisheries-based alternatives; development of climate resilient fisheries and aquaculture polices and regulations; building awareness on more climate and disaster resilient fisheries and aquaculture practices; and increased sensitisation of climate change, among other crucial measures, for a sustainable fisheries sector.

The project was launched by Minister without Portfolio Leslie Campbell during a ceremony at the Treasure Beach Sports Park in St Elizabeth, on July 24.

Campbell, who expressed the Government’s appreciation for the World Bank’s ongoing support, reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to providing the fishing industry with the necessary inputs to ensure its sustainability.

“We recognise the critical and important role being played by the fishing industry in creating livelihoods for fishers throughout the country and the unlimited potential it possesses to significantly contribute to the development of the national economy,” he said.

Campbell noted that over the past two years, the sector contributed US$79 million to Jamaica’s gross domestic product (GDP), with exports totalling more than one tonne, adding that he anticipates “great success” from the project that will further enhance the industry.

For his part, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, said he was happy that the initiative will foster greater climate change resilience across the sector.

He pointed out that there is indisputable evidence that climate change is “all around” and as such “nobody has to convince us about [it]”.

“What we have to do is be equipped with the tools to adequately respond so that our fisheries sector can survive.

We want to ensure that for generations to come, we can celebrate a robust fishing industry,” Green added.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Fisheries Authority, Courtney Cole, in his remarks, noted the entity is looking forward to the project’s successful implementation.

“I’ve been acting as vice-principal for the past two years. I have been in teaching for almost 31 years, and right now I would leave it to do aquaponics farming full- time,” said Lothian, who teaches at Aenon Town Primary in Clarendon.

She is one of several community members who have been participating in an aquaponics project funded by the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP&FM) Project of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR). The AP&FM is administered by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with funding from the Climate Investment Funds through the Inter-American Development Bank.

The Aquaponics Farming Project is operational in five rural communities: Aenon Town, Ritchies, Alston, Johns Hall, and James Hill in the Upper Rio Minho Watershed Area of Clarendon. The five communities have a combined population of over 10, 333 persons and are operating their new aquaponics systems through community development committees.

“Aquaponics is an innovative farming technique that combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (soil-less crop production). It is a method that boosts crop production up to 10 times higher than traditionally cultivated plots of equivalent size.

It uses 85-90 per cent less water and no chemical fertilisers or pesticides. It uses low energy consumption, providing year-round crop production and calls for much less labour than traditional farming, making it much more attractive for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities.

The aquaponics project started in December 2018 and is part of the activities undertaken to reduce Jamaica’s vulnerability to climate change.

Even before COVID-19, the island has been experiencing impacts, such as stronger hurricanes, severe flooding, prolonged droughts and sea level rise. Between 2001 and 2012, Jamaica experienced 11 storm events (including five major hurricanes) and several flood events, amounting to loss and damage of some J$128.54 billion.

Some of the new systems are recently completed, but already, farmers have reaped crops and sold at farmers’ markets, Lothian said. The options for marketing are many.

NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGE

“We have ALEX (a Government of Jamaica-run project to distribute fresh farm products); there is the farmers’ market; and other options are available to us,” noted Lothian.

“The successful planting out of our grow beds with different crops such as pak choi, cucumber, scallion, strawberry and tomato; raising the fish and watching them grow from fingerlings to sizes including quarter-pound; successfully reaping and selling crops; and getting community persons involved in the project,” the teacher added, noting what she considers project achievements to date.

Still, the aquaponics project is not without its challenges. Lothian pointed to praedial larceny, farmers needing water to keep the system going, and the difficulty of finding time to spend on the farm as being among them.

However, with so many opportunities available to market the output, the teacher is thinking of making a career switch so she can have more time.

“Aquaponics farming is a great way to farm. The impact on the lives of individuals is significant as they have learnt a climate-smart way to grow crops without destroying the environment. It offers a fast income, and it’s not as taxing on the body as farming in the grounds,” she said.

“Aquaponics has been helping us to adapt to climate change. This system does not use as much chemicals as regular farming does, and whatever is used on the crops has to be safe for the fish. There is no need to slash and burn and release harmful substances into the atmosphere. The system also uses less water than regular farming as the water is recycled,” she added.

The effort forms a part of the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP&FM) project’s COVID-19 response.

“Given that the primary beneficiaries of the AP&FM project are farmers, and some of them lost produce and markets due to COVID-19, we decided to assist with water to help to ‘save’ some of the crops that were left. They didn’t lose jobs, but [they] lost earnings,” said Dr Bridgette Barrett, community animator with the AP&FM project of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience.

“Now, they will be better able to adapt to climate change and increase their earning capacity,” she added.

The AP&FM COVID-19 response is to provide 97,000 gallons of water and assist farmers with storage to harvest water in the Bull Head Mountain region and at the five aquaponic systems recently built by the AP&FM Project in the communities.

The water supply component is being implemented in three phases. Phases one and two have been completed and resulted in the delivery of 49,000 gallons of water. The remaining 48,000 gallons for phase three will be supplied from June to August 2020 to the aquaponics sites weekly, to assist with the water levels in the fish tanks for optimal functioning.

“Forty-nine 650-gallon water tanks are being procured for delivery in June 2020 to farmers in the Bull Head region to assist with the storing of water,” noted Dr Barrett.

In March, the communities of Aenon Town, Ritchies, Alston, Johns Hall, and James Hill – with a combined population of over 10, 333 persons – were introduced to the new aquaponic systems operated by their Community Development Committees.

INNOVATIVE FARMING

Aquaponics is an innovative farming technique that combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (soilless crop production) into a closed system that is resilient to destructive climate-change events.

It is a method that boosts crop production up to 10 times higher than traditionally cultivated plots of equivalent size. It uses 85-90 per cent less water and no chemical fertilisers or pesticides. It is low-energy consumption providing year-round crop production, and uses much less labour than traditional farming.

“Aquaponics is an answer to some of the issues farmers face in plant production. We have not yet reaped any crop, but fish and pak choi will soon be ready,” said Carmen Dillion, a farmer from James Hill.

She and other farmers are hoping that in time they will find a good market, including higglers, hotel, canteen and restaurant suppliers, Rural Agricultural Development Authority connections, nearby markets, and from community members.

Many farmers across Jamaica have been significantly affected by COVID-19 as they lost one of their main markets with the closure of the hotels and the tourism sector. They have sought substitute markets and lowered their prices to recoup some costs. They have suffered major losses and need support to replant to ensure Jamaica’s food security. The farmers in the Upper Rio Minho Watershed are grappling with the impact of COVID-19 and drought conditions.

As a result, the AP&FM project, as a part of its COVID-19 response, liaised with farmers to find out their immediate needs. They indicated the need for water to assist with supporting their farms, as well as getting adequate storage capacity to harvest rainwater for their farms. The project has moved to help to address those needs.

The rainwater systems will be mainly distributed to schools, clinics, churches and other essential facilities that serve the communities. The systems are being provided by the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP&FM) for the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR). It is part of a set of activities that the AP&FM is implementing in the URMW to preserve the watershed, which is responsible for 40 per cent of the water supply to the parishes in Middlesex.

“The need for the communal rainwater systems was identified through a consultative process a few years ago when Jamaica’s Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience was being developed. It was among a set of measures recommended to halt the decline of the URMW area,” said Dr Winsome Townsend, project manager for the AP&FM.

Other measures include:

– rehabilitation of 2 rainwater ponds;

– 25 hectares of agro-forestry;

– 15 hectares of reforestation;

– Vulnerability assessment of and preparation of an Adaptation Plan for the entire Rio Minho Watershed; as well as :

– preparation of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction plans for the 15 most at-risk communities in the area.

“We are happy that we are now in the communities – working with the schools, health centres and churches, etc, to assign the rainwater systems. It means that these premises should be better able to manage drought and to better fulfil the role of emergency centres in the aftermath of a disaster,” said Townsend.

Since 2014, droughts have cost the Government at least J$1 billion to help farmers cope and recover. Clarendon has been one of the parishes experiencing extremely long periods of drought. The AP&FM programme will help ensure that there is increased water security in the communities through the restoration of the URMW.

The AP&FM is a part of Jamaica’s PPCR. It works to help Jamaica adjust more easily to climate change. It supports the integration of climate-change issues into development planning by government agencies. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and is funded by the Climate Investment Fund through the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Jamaica.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200326/earth-today-250-communal-rainwater-systems-upper-clarendon

The communities of Aenon Town, Ritchies, Alston, Johns Hall and James Hill, with a combined population of over 10, 333 persons, will see their new aquaponics systems operated by their Community Development Committees.

The systems were provided by the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP&FM) project of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) through INMED Partnerships for Children and their innovative INMED Aquaponics programme.

“It is an exciting time for the project, as these systems will greatly boost agricultural production in the communities. It will reduce their dependence on the changing weather patterns in order to produce because drought, for example, will not cripple the farmers as it used to,” explained Dr Winsome Townsend, project manager for the AP&FM.

AQUAPONICS

Aquaponics is an innovative farming technique that combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (soil-less crop production) into a closed system that is resilient to destructive climate change events.

It is a method that boosts crop production up to 10 times higher than traditionally cultivated plots of equivalent size. It uses 85-90% less water and uses no chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Its low energy consumption provides year-round crop production and uses much less labour than traditional farming, making it accessible to individuals with disabilities, beneficial for female-led households and attractive to youth.

“INMED Partnerships for Children and INMED Caribbean are proud to be working with these exceptional communities in the crucial watershed area of Clarendon, and are committed to provide crucial training and mentoring to help them be successful in achieving food and economic security and building climate resiliency,” noted Dr Linda Pfeiffer, INMED’s president.

The aquaponics systems are a part of the activities undertaken under the AP&FM to help to reduce Jamaica’s vulnerability to climate change. The island has been experiencing impacts, such as stronger hurricanes, severe flooding, prolonged droughts and sea level rise. Between 2001 and 2012, Jamaica experienced 11 storm events, including five major hurricanes and several flood events amounting to about J$128.54 billion in loss and damage.

COMMENDATIONS

“We commend these communities for their proactivity and recognising the importance of building resilience to climate change. They have led the charge for implementing the commissioning of these systems which will boost their agricultural outputs critical to ensuring food security especially in periods of drought,” said Therese Turner-Jones, general manager for the Caribbean Country Department of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The Government of Jamaica, the IDB and the World Bank developed the island’s PPCR to help the country to strengthen its climate resilience through enhancing adaptive capacity across priority sectors. PPCR has five projects being implemented to address varying areas of vulnerability. The AP&FM is the largest of the five PPCR projects in Jamaica.

“This project is one that the community has really embraced. I can see based on what they tell me that they have bought into it,” said Morene Marshall, president of the Ritchies Community Development Committee.

“I think the project will provide employment for some persons. It can also bring about togetherness as well as we have representatives from all the different churches in the area working together on it,” she added.

The plan – which mainstreams climate change – is scheduled for finalisation next month.

The consultations, which started in early January, have been organised by the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP&FM) for the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience.

They have been targeting key stakeholders at the local government level, including the municipal council of all the parishes. The consultation were scheduled as follows:

– Wednesday, January 15 – the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston, which included participants from the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, the Portmore Municipal Corporation and St Catherine;

– Friday, January 17 – the Knutsford Court hotel in Kingston, which included participants from Portland, St Thomas and St Mary;

– Tuesday, January 21 – Villa Sonate in St Ann, which included participants from St Ann and Trelawny;

– Friday, January 24 – Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston, which included participants from Clarendon and St Elizabeth;

Tuesday, January 28 – Oasis Hotel in Negril, including participants from Westmoreland, Hanover and Trelawny; and

Friday, January 31 – Deja Hotel in St James, including participants from St James and Manchester.

“The input that has been provided by the stakeholders so far has been very valuable. We will include as much of the feedback as possible into the final draft. It is good that some of the municipal corporations have begun to think about how they will help implement the National Spatial Plan and how it will relate to their Parish Development Plans,” said Dr Winsome Townsend, project manager for the AP&FM Project, which focuses on integrating climate change issues into development planning.

AP&FM also provides funds for climate change adaptation work in small and medium businesses, as well as communities. The AP&FM project is being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank.

CONTENTS OF THE DRAFT

The draft NSP is an eight-chapter document compiled from research and consultations that started in April 2018. The most recent draft of the document covers:

1. Introduction

2. The Planning Context

3. Legislative and Institutional Framework

4. Settlements – Rural and Urban Development

5. Public Utilities Infrastructure

6. Social Amenities Infrastructure

7. Major Economic Sectors – Industries

8. National Spatial Planning Policies and Strategies.

The consultations included the National Environment and Planning Agency, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Housing Association of Jamaica, the Urban Development Corporation, as well as other entities.

Spatial planning refers to the various approaches used by the government and non-government stakeholders to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scale. An NSP is important to the sustainable development of and use of a country’s resources.