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Economic Aspects | Natural Resource Aspects | Institutional Aspects | Social Aspects |Jamaica

NATURAL RESOURCE ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN JAMAICA

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AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE

 Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies

 Under the Rural Agricultural Development Authority Act, RADA is established to inter alia: Provide an efficient agricultural extension service and participate in the formulation and implementation of appropriate rural development projects with a view to stimulating and facilitating the development of Agriculture in Jamaica; and, Encourage and, so far as maybe practicable having regard to the financial and other resources at the disposal and to the statutory powers of the authority, to secure proper economic and efficient utilization of all land in rural areas. 

Land 

The Rural Physical Planning division has been involved to a great extent in the zoning of lands. There is a range of circumstances in which decisions on type of land use - agriculture, forestry, urban, tourism, etc. - are taken, in whole or part, on the basis of the inherent properties of the land. 

Poverty Reduction 

The Ministry of Agriculture is one of the partners in the Poverty Eradication Programme.  The Ministry collaborates at national, parish and community levels.  Such collaboration is an integral element in the implementation plan because it facilitates the pooling of resources for maximum benefit.  The appropriate sections and offices of the Ministry are involved at various levels of planning and implementation.  The Ministry of Agriculture Poverty Eradication Committee is proactive in providing structure, co-ordination and direction to the poverty eradication effort in its agency, and must work in collaboration with its counter parts in other agencies as well as with the other partners.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations  

Integrated Pest Management 

Under this IPM policy the provisions of the Plant Quarantine Act is being rigorously enforced, thereby strengthening the quarantine services. This includes numerical strengthening and training to improve technical competence. 

Land Degradation and Rehabilitation 

Four statutes have a major influence on soil resources issues:

·         The Forest Act

·         The Watershed Protection Act

·         The Rural Agricultural Development Authority Act

·         The Town and Country Planning Act. 

Sections of the Forest Act sets out a number of prohibited activities in a forest reserve.  The prohibited acts include the following: girdling, lopping, uprooting, and burning of trees, kindling and carrying of fire, manufacturing or removal of forest produce. The Watersheds Protection Act is intended to reduce soil erosion, ensure regular flow in rivers and streams, encourage optimum levels of groundwater and encourage proper land use. 

Watershed Development 

The Watersheds Protection Act (1963) is the law governing watersheds in Jamaica and is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority.  The primary focus of the act is the conservation of water resources by protecting land in or adjoining the watersheds.  The Act is intended to; ensure proper land use in vital watershed areas; reduce soil erosion; maintain optimum levels of groundwater and promote regular flows in waterways. The Act relies heavily on prohibiting and regulating to protect the declared watersheds.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans 

Agricultural Policy Review 

The national strategy on sustainable development (SARD) of Jamaica is embodied in the 1999 draft of the Policy Framework document on The Development of the Agricultural Sector, the contents of which must first go through the prescribed legislative steps before it becomes a policy. 

The objectives stated in the Policy Framework draft are outlined below:

·         Improving rural infrastructure, including road, water, power and telecommunications

·         Development of human resources, through vocational training and other activities, which are necessary to encourage stable growth through development, oriented investments.

·         Increasing land ownership, which is important for achieving, desired investments.  

Land policy as related to Agriculture:

·         Government will make a greater effort to preserve arable land (especially classes 1 and 2) for agricultural purposes as far as is viable as possible.

·         Agricultural land use maps are to be upgraded to identify land capability and suitability for various types of crop.

·         Conservation measures and improved agricultural practices are to be used to reduce soil erosion and maintain soil fertility and increase productivity. 

There is no written policy, which specifically addresses the conversion of arable land for purposes other than agriculture. The guidelines outlined below were adapted from the document “A suggested National Soils Policy for Jamaica”.  

·         In the area of agricultural land use, all arable lands will be preserved for agricultural purposes as far as viable and possible.  The agricultural mapping system will be reviewed to identify land capability and suitability for various types of crops.  Government will also endeavour to bring about a significant reduction in the amount of under-utilized arable land.

·         As far as land policy for "industrial activity" is concerned, Government's new national industrial policy clearly indicates that there will be continuing provision of new industrial land by Government within urban boundaries to form an integral component of settlement development strategy.

·         Over the next two years, Government will review the roles and functions of all the agencies involved in land management and develop institutional modalities that will eliminate inefficiencies and promote co-ordinated decision-making.

·         Finally, in terms of the planning approval process, Government will harmonize the operations of Town Planning Department and the NRCA with particular reference to the administration of the country's environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements.  This EIA requirement, which, through the NRCA Act, is now applicable to public sector developments, will be extended to block zoning and plans. 

Greater efforts are being made to preserve all arable lands for agricultural purposes as far as is viable and possible. There are three policies that are applicable in this context. They are National Land Policy, National Settlement Strategy and the National Industrial Policy. 

Government will endeavour to bring about a significant reduction in the amount of under-utilised land, under the Land Development and Utilization Act.                   

Guidelines to integrate environmental concerns into Agricultural Development Projects are as follows:

·         All lands of environmental importance will, unless decided otherwise by Cabinet, remain vested in Government, but could however be leased for approved uses/management with relevant conditions.  These areas would include watersheds, wildlife sanctuaries and quays.

·         All new agricultural developments (including change of agricultural use) over 5 hectares must obtain a permit from the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, with inputs from the Ministry of Agriculture.  Agricultural development of 25 hectares and over may require an Environmental Impact Assessment.

·         The  “Polluter pays” principle and application of the best practical available technology among basic responses to Jamaica’s environmental problems. 

Major activities:

·         Development of government lands

Special attention is to be given to the use of Government lands. This includes the following:

·         acceleration of the process of divestment of such lands for productive purposes.

·         centralization of the divestment process;

·         enforcing the non-performers clause within the context of the existing divestments. 

Crop Zoning 

Crop Zoning is expected to play an important role in investment decisions and the Rural Physical Planning Division of the Ministry of Agriculture will play a key role in this area, particularly in relation to land capability and soil management. 

Irrigation Programmes 

Government recognizes that there must be increased development of irrigation programmes and proper management of irrigation systems. It has therefore prepared a master plan for the development of this service on a phased basis. The National Irrigation Commission  (NIC) has been in charge of the effective management of the system. 

Electricity and telecommunications 

The Government will work together with the respective agencies responsible for the provision of electricity and telecommunications to ensure that these services are delivered to rural areas on a phased but timely basis. 

Roads and other infrastructure 

The Government recognizes the important role played by the development and proper maintenance of a network of farm roads in attracting investments to the sector and in reducing costs as well as improving marketability. It is therefore committed to ensuring that adequate budgetary provision is made for this purpose.  

Development of Human Resources 

The Government is committed to the effective development of rural population through the development of educational programmes and institutions. This includes primary and secondary schools; The College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE); The HEART Academy and the University of the West Indies. 

Involvement of Youth in the sector 

The government is involving youth in the sector through a Youth in Agriculture programme which has three components:

·         Revitalization of the schools’ agricultural programme;

·         Identification of properties to be leased/sold to youth;

·         Specific macro-projects which would address some of the factors militating against youth involvement.

·         Lift-up Jamaica 

Involvement of women in agriculture Programme 

The Government recognizes the importance of women in the agricultural sector. Women were always involved in the marketing of domestic crops. The government intends to promote and encourage a more direct involvement of women in the ownership and management of farms through on-farm production, agro-processing and cottage industries. 

Jamaica’s Commitment in the WTO 

Under its Uruguay Round Commitments, Jamaica has complied with WTO rulings and has reduced ceilings to a rate of 100% for duties on agricultural commodities.  Other duties and charges were bound at 15 percent except for a list of 56 products for which rates were set at 80 percent, and for three (3) products set at 200 percent.  These products include bovine and swine meat, poultry, vegetables, some cereals, fruit juices, and sugar other than raw sugar.  Applied tariff rates range from 0-40 percent with inputs normally subject to low rates or granted duty free access. 

Jamaica did not include in its WTO schedule the use of any export subsidies and therefore has no obligation to reduce export subsidies.  Jamaica does not supply any trade distortion support measures and is therefore not required to reduce their measures.  All the domestic support measures fall in the category of “the Green Box” and are not subject to reduction.  Access Quotas – Tariff Rate Quotas:  This section of the WTO agreement is not applicable to Jamaica as it does not use quotas or any form of quantitative restrictions on imports. 

Food Security 

Jamaica has submitted a report dated January 26, 1998 to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in relation to the follow-up on the implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action (1996). In retrospect of the seven commitments outlined in the summit there is reported progress in the following areas as outlined in the progress report. 

The Jamaican Government will ensure an enabling political, social and economic environment designed to create the best conditions for the eradication of poverty and for durable peace, based on full and equal participation of women and men, which is most conducive to achieving sustainable food security for all.

 Government is in the process of implementing a National Industrial Policy to achieve growth and prosperity in the Jamaican economy. Through this policy the government is committed to building and sustaining a ‘Social Partnership’ which fosters collaborative effort between the government, the business sector, the labour unions in an effort to achieve national development goals of growth with stability, social equity, and conservation of the environment. There is a proposal for the creation of a Commission on Gender and Social equity which advocates gender balance in the appointment of various economic committees and the policy areas involved in implementation of the industrial policy as well as systemic effort to incorporate specific policies, programmes, action plans and measures designed to improve the status of women in Jamaican society; 

The Government will implement policies aimed at eradicating poverty and inequality and improving physical and economic access by all, at all times to provide sufficient, nutritionally adequate and safe food and its effective utilization.    

The Jamaican government will pursue participatory and sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development policies and practices in high and low potential areas, which are essential to adequate and reliable food supplies at the household, national, regional and global levels, and combat pests, drought, decertification considering the multifunctional character of agriculture. 

One of Government’s objectives for the agricultural sector is to increase production and productivity in order to make greater contribution to national food security. This is being achieved in the following ways: 

·         A production target of 10% increase per annum for domestic food crops.

·         A Master Irrigation Development Plan has being developed and the government is now in the process of seeking funding of projects which will reduce farmers’ dependence on rainfall.

·         The Ministry has completed the implementation of a Hillside Agricultural Project (HAP) in the eastern watershed, which was successful in carrying out rehabilitation of denuded hillsides as well as improvement in farmers’ income. A successor project is now being prepared for the Hope and Great River Watersheds for which funding is being sought.

·         Priority is being given to a reforestation programme. A public awareness programme is being implemented and 100 hectares of forests will be established on private lands.

·         The research and extension services are to be upgraded to provide farmers with appropriate technology. To this end, an Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP) has been prepared and is awaiting funding.

·         The interest rate on agricultural credit has been reduced to an average level of just under 20% per annum.

·         Post Harvest Management training is being intensified to reduce post harvest losses and increase marketable agricultural produce. Consequently several workshops have been held to promote this and will continue to be accorded high priority in training programmes for both staff and farmers.

·         Legislation is being upgraded to protect consumers through improved food quality safety. To this end parts of Codex standards are being used for the development of local standards. The first Codex standard on irradiated foods has been adopted.

·         The levels of residues in agricultural produce are being monitored. To this end, only licensed insecticides can enter Jamaica.

·         A laboratory for residue analysis in meat and dairy products has been established at the Veterinary Division.

·         The training of public health inspectors in food safety is on-going.  

The Jamaican government will strive to ensure that food, agricultural trade and overall trade policies are conducive to fostering food security for all through fair and market oriented world trade systems.

·         Monitoring of the impact of reduction of tariffs on competing produce.

·         Priority is also being given to existing farmers to become more efficient and competitive through Improved research, extension, irrigation and other infrastructure. 

The Jamaican Government will endeavour and be prepared for natural disasters and man-made emergencies and to meet transitory and emergency food requirements in ways that encourage recovery, rehabilitation, development and the capacity to satisfy future needs. In Jamaica, there is an organization called the ‘Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) which has the responsibility of providing food, shelter, disease control measures and access to individuals and communities which have been affected by natural disasters. The organization carries out this role with the assistance of all relevant Ministries of Government, organizations and agencies as well as co-ordinating relief supplies from private agencies both local and overseas. 

The Government will promote optimal allocation and use of public and private investment investments to foster human resources, sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries and forests and rural development in high and low potential areas. The Government is committed to developing agriculture, fisheries at optimal levels.  This is being done through budgetary support to the Ministry of Agriculture for the employment of relevant technical staff and through the development of appropriate projects in the areas of research, extension and integrated rural development.  The Government receives additional support by mobilising bilateral and multilateral funding in support of these programmes. 

The Jamaican Government will implement, monitor, and follow-up this Plan of Action at all levels in co-operation with the international community. The government is seriously committed to implementing the Plan of Action. It is doing this by ensuring that an integrated set of policies and programmes are implemented which will impact on increasing food production and productivity and by ensuring a distribution system which delivers food to even the most remote areas of the country.  

Land 

The revised National Physical Plan 1978-1998 broadly outlined a national development strategy which identified urban growth points, conservation areas (inland and marine parks, wetlands and watersheds) and mining and agricultural areas. The land use decisions have been to a large extent guided by this broad-brush strategy. However, there have been instances in which developments do not conform to this strategy. 

The comprehensive task of preparing a Natural Master Land Use Plan is intended to be created. Jamaica’s Land Policy as related to Agriculture is threefold: 

·         Government will make a greater effort to preserve arable land (especially class 1 and 2), for agricultural purposes as far as is viable and possible.

·         Agricultural land use maps are to be updated to identify land capability and sustainability for various types of crops.

·         Conservation measures and improved agricultural practices are to be used to reduce soil erosion and maintain soil fertility and increase productivity. 

Soil conservation strategies have been employed by a number of projects such as:         

·         Forestry Development and Watershed Management in the  Upland Regions (1968-1975)

·         Second Integrated Rural Development Project (1978)

·         Strengthening the National Soil Conservation Programme for Integrated Watershed Development (1979-1982).

·         Strengthening of Department of Forestry and Soil Conservation and Institutional strengthening of the Department of Forestry and Soil Conservation.

·         Hillside Agricultural Project (1987-1998)

·         The National Forestry Action Programme (1990-)

·         The Agroforestry Development Project  (992-94 and 1995-98).

·         There is a recent U.K. funded research project on Forest Clearance, Agroforestry and Soil Conservation. 

Information from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Rural Physical Planning Division states that special attention is to be given to the protective use of Government lands, including the following measures:  

·         acceleration of the process of divestment of Government lands for productive enterprises

·         centralization of the land divestment process; and,

·         invoking the non-performance clause with respect to existing divestment agreements 

Jamaica through its regulatory body the National Resource Conservation Authority (NRCA) has adopted the following policy; to promote the integrated protection of land; conservation and development of land and water resources in watersheds for their sustainable use and for the benefit of the nation as a whole. 

Through the NRCA the following strategies were formulated to:  

·         Develop a National Watershed Programme

·         Establish an Inter-Ministerial Watershed Management Committee

·         Strengthen human and financial resources required to co-ordinate employment and monitor work in the watersheds

·         Bank each watershed and establish priorities for interventions.

·         Secure budgetary support for implementation of the policy. 

Integrated Pest Management and Control in Agriculture 

While recognizing that chemicals will be continue to play an important role in the management of pests, under this IPM policy government is guided by available information, continue to enhance national pesticide control capabilities. This is attended firstly through the strengthening of the Pesticide Control Act and relevant regulations as seem necessary. The active participation of the general population, farmers, agricultural workers and consumers in particular is enlisted through education and training and training programmes designed to increase awareness about pesticides.   

The Government of Jamaica is cognizant that overdependence on pesticides will affect the ecological balances of nature and is also committed to assisting farmers to increase their productivity and chances for making a livelihood from agriculture to institute an Integrated Pest Management programme. 

The government ensures effective agricultural extension capability by providing the necessary support to Rural Agricultural Development Authority, agricultural commodity boards, and other agencies responsible for training. Of major importance is the development of a team of highly trained IPM specialists. This is to be spearheaded by a national training of trainers’ programme. Government will encourage and facilitate the earliest establishment of rapid retrieval information system with direct linkages to international databases to support the national IPM programme. This will facilitate, where feasible, the options of technology validation as opposed to basic research. 

A public awareness campaign will be implemented through Jamaica Information Service to educate consumers on the superiority of IPM in the sustainable production of wholesome food, the protection of human health, and the preservation of the environment. 

Government will restore its own diagnostic and identification capabilities now located at the Island’s research station. Elaborate, clear and efficient procedures for reporting pest problems will be embarked on. 

Integrated Plant Nutrition Management 

Although there is no written policy on Integrated Plant Nutrition, the government of Jamaica is committed to ensuring an ecologically balanced environment and consequently the concept of Integrated Plant Nutrition (IPN) is practised islandwide by small farmers and in more recent times by commercial farmers.  This practise includes using nitrogen-fixing plants; appropriate soil management techniques, including mulching and fallow periods; resistant varieties; compatible cropping systems (e.g. inter-cropping) and agroforestry; practices giving due consideration to animal welfare; biological control of pests, and manual, mechanical and thermal weeding.  

Although there continues to be a dependence on chemical fertilizers to increase production and productivity, there is a shift towards finding and using alternative methods.  Practices such as organic farming including composting are now being used.  The Government realizes the trade off in becoming involved in integrated pest management as the use of organic fertilizers aid in keeping the environment healthy and provide the economic and health benefit of producing and consuming organically grown food.  

The Jamaican Government through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority is involved significantly in the implementation of activities to motivate farmers to take an integrated plant nutrition approach in their on farm operations. To date some of the practices encouraged are: 

·         Reduction in the use of inorganic fertilizers while increasing the use of organic fertilizers such as composting and mulching.

·         Crop rotation is emphasized and those farmers who have medium to large land holdings are encouraged to leave overused land to fallow.

·         Farmers are discouraged from the widely used "slash and burn" method for clearing land.

·         Implementing proper soil conservation measures such contouring and trenching.

·         There is an ongoing integrated pest management programme, which is responsible for the judicious use of chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. 

Organic farming is practised on several small to medium-sized farms and small pilot projects have been initiated. A vibrant organic growers association and a vegetarian society exist. A successful Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research has been initiated by several institutions including the Scientific Research Council, and its Food Technology Institute (FTI) division has been actively involved in results-oriented research and development. Moreover, the existence of the USDA pre-clearance unit facilitates exports of organically produced food to the USA. 

Plant and Animal Genetic Diversity 

 Species diversity is normally considered to be one of the primary indicators of a healthy ecosystem in Jamaica. Wild endangered animals are protected under the Wild Life Protection Act (1945).  Investigations conducted by the NRCA between 1993 to 1996 revealed that there has been a significant increase in the number of protected animals held in captivity over the years.  Wild life attractions linked to nature tourism are considered to be one of the contributing factors

Regulatory bodies include National Resource Conservation Authority (NRCA), Ministry of Agriculture, Environment Foundation of Jamaica which carry out regulatory functions with respect to environmental concerns.

The concerns that are stated above are all reflected in the statement of objectives enunciated in Jamaica’s National Environmental Action Plan. These objectives include: 

·         Creating attitudes and behaviour, which are responsible and oriented to action in environmental protection and the sustainable use of natural resources.

·         Encouraging the use of non-renewable resources.

·         Ensuring that renewable resources including forests and wildlife are used in a sustainable manner.

·         Ensuring good air quality in Jamaica.

·         Ensuring surface and underground water are in sufficient quantities and quality appropriate for present and future human needs and ecosystem integrity.

·         Providing for the protection and conservation of plants and animals, particularly endemic species.

·         Minimizing the impact of natural hazards and environmental hazards on the population, the economy and on natural systems.

·         Allowing for global environmental co-operation and security with special attention to the needs of developing countries and the circumstances of vulnerable islands states.

·         Enhancing the natural beauty of the island in natural areas, built-up areas, roadways, and open spaces on both public and private land.

·         Protecting and preserving the marine environment and territorial waters within the exclusive economic zone. 

Water for Sustainable Food Production and Sustainable Rural Development

 The Government is intent on ensuring that the provision of water for agricultural purposes is done: 

·         In a cost effective and efficient manner.

·         In a manner to facilitate sustained social and economic growth development.

·         With develop regard health and environment considerations 

The Government will promote: 

·         Achievement of cost efficiencies

·         Mobilization of additional sources of funding and investment support from the private sector and external sources.

·         Introduction of cost recovery mechanisms to ensure that the direct beneficiary pays and that the supply of services can be maintained and expanded.

·         Encouragement of farmer participation in the management and distribution of irrigation water

·         Introduction of conservation measures including measures to improve irrigation efficiencies and improve losses.

·         Expansion of irrigation facilities on a phased basis to agricultural belts across the country with particular emphasis on the arid but highly production southern agricultural parishes.

·         Development of ways and means to facilitate the need of hillside small farmers. 

Farmers are encouraged to adopt more efficient on-farm systems.  This has resulted in a number of farmers acquiring more efficient on-farm irrigation system.  This has been achieved through educating farmers mostly through demonstration plots and demonstration of more efficient equipment as to the benefits to be gained from the use of improved irrigation technologies. 

The recently completed National Irrigation Plan recognizes the importance of the use of improved technologies and to this end projects have been packaged with the on-farm systems as a component to the funding requirements. In addition to these, the current irrigation charges has as one of its components a demand charge whereby farmers pay for the amount of water used.  A serious effort is being made to ensure that all users of the systems are metered. 

Water Logging:

The following steps are taken: The use of our extension service/officers to educate the farmers in appropriate land levelling and irrigation methods; and, also in the efficient use of on-farm water. 

Salinization:

·         the monitoring of wells (especially those in saline areas to prevent over-pumping.

·         the monitoring of water used for agriculture from saline wells.

·         preventing the use of recycled leached water.

·         issuing advice on proper drainage levels of farmlands. 

Teaching is the most widely used reclamation treatment in Jamaica. However, groundwater sources that show increasing trends to salinity are usually taken out of operation.  These are quickly recognized through the Groundwater Monitoring Programme that the Water Resources Authority carries out. 

Steps are taken in order to prevent adverse effects of agriculture on water quality. These steps include the use of our extension service officers (in conjunction with the RADA officers), to educate and advice the farmers on crop production technologies example in the appropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides. 

Source  - National Irrigation Development Master Plan (NIDP) Annex E – 2.3 Management – Irrigation – Practices – E-11.        

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

See also under Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies, and Plans. 

The Home Economics/Social Services Section of RADA (Rural Agricultural Development Authority), 4-H Clubs, agricultural institutions of learning (University of the West Indies, College of Agriculture Science and Education et al.) and the Jamaica Agricultural Society solicit and facilitate the participation of women and youth, small farmers and other indigenous groups in agricultural issues. 

Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) 

The agricultural society which represents farmers islandwide has as its mandate, to ensure the protection and promotion of farmers' interest through a vigorous, independent and financially viable organization providing services to farmers and assisting them to gain access to resources provided government and other agencies and to enhance global policy initiatives in order to achieve social and economic development of the rural poor. JAS is represented on various committees and statutory organizations which deal with agriculture.

Programmes and Projects 

 Food Security 

Government is implementing policies aimed at eradicating poverty and inequality and improving physical and economic access by all and at all times to provide sufficient, nutritionally adequate and safe food. To achieve this government is committing significant financial resources to projects such as the Social Investment Fund (SIF) established to attack the root causes of poverty and hunger through the provision of community training, institutional building, and employment creation through small business development. Other poverty alleviation programmes include public assistance programmes, which provide aid to persons who have little or no income or who are incapacitated. These programmes are the Food Aid Programme; Poor Relief; Economic and Social Assistance Programmes for the Aged; Programmes for persons with disabilities and Emergency Relief Services. 

Government implements several public assistance programmes that provide aid to persons who have little or no income or who are incapacitated.  The programmes are: 

·         Food Aid Programme 

The Food Aid Prograrmme is designed to supplement the food intake of persons who are at risk of becoming malnourished and others who have little or no visible income. It provides improved nutritional levels for school children, pregnant and lactating mothers and children aged 0-6 years. The aims of the programme are achieved through the Food Stamp Programme and the supplementary and School Feeding Programmes.  

·         Food Stamp Programme 

This a welfare programme initiated by the government to assist persons who are classified in the categories of pregnant/lactating women; children 0-6 years; elderly poor/disabled; single person households (earning under Ja$7000 per annum); households of 2 or more (earning under Ja$18000). For the period 1999/2000 the programme targeted 248,000 beneficiaries. These individuals are given an allowance in the form of food stamps, which can be used to purchase certain food items. 

·         School Feeding Programme 

The School Feeding Programme is one of the social safety net measures being implemented by the Government and forms part of the larger National Poverty Eradication Programme. It caters to students in pre-primary, public primary and secondary schools to which it provides nutrition supplement in the form of at least one balanced meal per day. 

·         Supplementary Feeding

Funds were provided to each parish for providing nutritional supplements for malnourished children. 

Land

 Environmental monitoring, by which is meant quantitative measurement of changes with time, is an established method internationally, through the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) of United Nations  Environmental Protection (UNEP).  In Jamaica monitoring is done, first of erosion, and secondly of other forms of soil degradation.  

The monitoring programme involves estimating present rates of erosion; assessing the consequences of erosion, including both on-site productivity and off-site effects and converting these estimates into economic terms, as financial and social costs. 

Other programmes implemented include land zoning.  As a result of this programme an objective criteria for defining land of high agricultural productivity is to be set up and its extent mapped.   

Integrated Pest Management Programmes

 The Ministry of Agriculture provides technical support to the farming community adopting IPM as the sanctioned pest management approach for Jamaica. 

In fulfilling its mandate to provide technical support to the farming community, the Ministry of Agriculture has adopted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes as the principal means of controlling agricultural pests. It is agreed that overdependence on chemical pesticides reduces quality of life by increasing environmental concerns and disrupting crop production processes. Through the vehicles of research and development, and Extension services an effective IPM programme has been put in place.  Some measures adopted are; use of pheromones, biological control, pest harvesting, using resistant varieties, crop barriers, crop rotation, field sanitation, appropriate time of planting and solarization. 

The prime objectives of the IPM programme are: 

·         To advance the health status of all Jamaicans and those who use our agricultural produce through better management of pesticides in crop production.

·         Protecting and preserving Jamaica's ecological resources through promotion and facilitating optimally lowered levels of environmental contamination by agricultural pesticides.

·         Increasing farm productivity, facilitating improved profitability and enhancing farmer and rural welfare, through promotion and facilitating optimally reduces levels of crop damage by agricultural pests.

·         Encourage and facilitating the development of ecologically, socially and economically appropriate IPM programmes for all crops grown commercially in Jamaica. 

The Global Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Facility has not been used. However, it is intended to be used in upcoming programmes.  

Rural energy transition to enhance productivity 

·         Munro Project : This is a 300 kilowatt wind turbine system used at Munro College.  They also sell power to Jamaica Public Service  Company Limited (JPSCo) for use in their regular supply.

·         The JPSCo Ltd. in expanding the national grid has also implemented a program to install photovoltaic system in rural areas. This system to date has been installed at Middle Bonnet in St. Catherine  

Implement integrated farm management technologies and practices 

The Government of Jamaica through its training and extension arm, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has implemented activities and programmes in order to improve farm production and farming systems.  These activities and programmes are as follows: 

1. Crop Rotation 

Training sessions are conducted both on -farm and at the farmers' training centre. The activities undertaken with respect to crop rotation include:

·         The use of nitrogen fixing plants in the crop rotation cycles, which facilitates the replenishment of nitrogen in soil.

·         The use of insect repellent crop varieties to break the life cycle of pests and diseases.

·         Planting crops in the seasons they grow best in consequently creating a rotation of crops throughout the year. 

2. Organic plant nutrients 

Jamaica's government in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency initiated the Soils Nutrients for Agricultural Productivity programme in 1995. The objectives of this programme include: 

·         Tracking fertilizer through the distribution network.

·         Determining the agro-social factors affecting fertiliser usage.

·         Establishing crop nutrient requirements and diagnostic procedures.

·         Assessing application practices

·         Reporting on the impacts, if any, of proper fertilizer usage.

·         With the onset of the Integrated Plant Nutrition Programme (IPN) farmers in Jamaica are encouraged to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers while increasing the application of organic methods such as mulching, and the use of animal dung. 

3.  Prevention of Pre and Post Harvest losses 

·         RADA's training and marketing division facilitates with the training of farmers in the areas of pre- and post-harvest technology. Farmers are trained to detect early traits of infected crops and the required precautionary measures to be taken, packaging crops directly in the fields, and grading.

·         Appropriate cultural practices are recommended to farmers who are incorporated into the Integrated Pest Management programme.

·         Specially designed crates are been used to discourage over-packing and for uniformity. These crates facilitate for easier stacking on the trucks.

·         Farmers are encouraged to store harvested crops away from sunlight.

·         There are established cooling rooms, which are owned by the government but are used by producer marketing organizations.

·         Some farmers gain access to cooling facilities through their association with a co-operative e.g. the Christiana Growers’ co-operative.

·         One responsibility of the Ministry of Commerce and Technology is to ensure that good post harvest management practises are implemented and sustained among private and publicly owned facilities.

·         Through the Agriculture Export Services Project (AESP) refrigerated trucks were made available to farmers in certain areas to transport fresh produce from the farm gate to the point of sale (export or local market). To date these trucks are still being made available to farming groups.  

4. Effective use of external inputs 

Emphasis is now being placed on the Integrated Pest Management programme (IPM).  The IPM programme emphasizes better management of pesticides and reduced use of the more toxic and persistent ones in order to make crop production safer for agricultural workers and reduce the hazards to which users and handlers of pesticides are exposed.Through RADA effective water usage is encouraged by: 

·         Discouraging furrow irrigation while encouraging drip irrigation using sprinkler irrigation system; and,

·         Using mulch in the form of vegetation (grass) and/or plastic. 

Removal of Agricultural Subsidies 

The following reforms were implemented as a part of structural adjustment programme in the 1980s and 1990s: 

·         The Generalized Food Subsidy Programme administered by the Jamaica Commodity Trading Company (JCTC) was abolished. In addition JCTC has ceased to have the monopoly on imports of basic items eg. corn, soybean, wheat, skim milk powder and rice. All general subsidies were eliminated.

·         Credit subsidies were removed and market related credit terms were adopted.

·         The General Consumption Tax that is currently 15% is waived on a number of specified agricultural inputs under the General Consumption Tax law. Machinery and other inputs into the production of agricultural commodities are also exempted from Customs Duties. 

The Domestic Food Crop Project 

The government has allocated $50 million to assist in counteracting the negative effects of the drought as well as contributing to the expansion of production. The Domestic food crop project as it is termed would aim to increase production and productivity of eight selected crops for the export and local markets, through the planting of an additional 1970 hectares in geographical areas, which have demonstrated distinct competitive advantage. 

Fruit Tree Crop Project 

The government has allocated Ja$100 million to implement the Fruit Tree Crop Project over the next three years.  The main objectives of the project are: 

·         To increase long –term income by developing and producing commercial orchards of fruit tree crops;

·         To reduce environmental degradation and encourage long-term conservation measures. This will be done by reducing soil erosion and producing fruit trees on sloping soil thus discouraging the planting of clean cultivation crops on steep hillsides.

·         To encourage the development of the food processing indust