Noranda Bauxite spreads greenhouse technology
Published:Saturday | September 17, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
BURNT GROUND, St Ann:
NORANDA JAMAICA Bauxite Partners (NJBP) has expanded its agriculture outreach project with the construction of several greenhouses in the farming community of Burnt Ground, St Ann, and at three schools in the parish.
Several farmers in Burnt Ground and adjoining communities are now using the method, as well as students at Brown's Town and York Castle high schools, and Aboukir Institute.
On a recent media tour of the farm areas, NJBP's Public Relations Superintendent Kent Skyers said Noranda had established two greenhouses two years ago in partnership with Jamaica Bauxite Institute and the United States Agency for International Development.
"Since that we have added another 15 greenhouses," Skyers said. "The intention is to make this location the centre of greenhouse operations in Jamaica, and ... to ensure that this happens, we have established a proper water-catchment and storage system.
"We have established two ponds to catch and store water. These ponds hold roughly eight million gallons of water and in these ponds we have installed two solar pumps."
The pumps and the lining of the ponds cost some $6 million.
Skyers said over the next two years, 40 more greenhouses will be built. Crops currently being planted, include sweet pepper, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce with a plan to introduce other crops. The produce are being sold to vendors in St Ann and St James.
Skyers said development plans also include the construction of cold storage facilities.
"Our intention is to get to the large hotels, the large distributors to say come to Burnt Ground, come to Noranda greenhouse facility, tell us what you want, we can grow it in the type you want it, because there are no limitations now," Skyers said.
Farmers from Burnt Ground, who have learnt the technology, are now passing on the knowledge to farmers from other communities in St Ann.
Project doing well
Meanwhile, with more than $5 million being pumped into the project for the schools, principal at Brown's Town High School, Johnallson Ferraria, said the greenhouse project at his school has been going well.
The facility has been in existence at Brown's Town High for less than a year and has been a success, producing items that are being used at the school and sold to outsiders.
"Since its inception, we have reaped hundreds of pounds of sweet peppers and cucumbers," Ferraria told The Gleaner.
"The greenhouse is giving an added boost to our agricultural department, it is really enhancing agriculture at the school. It is teaching students how to grow crops under controlled condition, and how to take care of a greenhouse," the principal said.
Apart from green peppers and cucumber, the school is also cultivating scallion.
Noranda has also assisted Aabuthnott Gallimore High School to set up a greenhouse at the school in Alexandria.
PHOTOS BY CARL GILCHRIST