Flamstead farmers receive $1.2 million

Christopher Bodden, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Flamstead Farmers' Group in Hanover has been awarded $1.2 million to enhance its 'Reforest, Reclaim & Restore' initiative through the Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (Ja-REEACH) project.

According to farmer and project manager, Lloyd Buck, the initiative will see the group using improved farming techniques and best practices on their respective properties.

The Flamstead Farmers JAS Group was started in 2006 and now has more than 30 members.

"What we mean is that we are to reforest the watershed through the planting of fruit and timber trees and implement a rainwater harvesting and crop-irrigation system, reclaim land from invasive species, and restore the viability of the crop farmer for its members and expand the group's farm plot," Buck said.

The Jamaica Rural Economy and Ja-REEACH programme focuses on the vulnerability to climate change and the impact of global climate change on Jamaica's natural resources, lives, and livelihoods.

The project is being carried out under the auspices of the Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA), with funding from the United States Agency for International Development. ACDI/VOCA received a four-year, $14 million award to implement the Ja-REEACH programme.

Recently, the Flamstead Farmers' group participated in an agro-forestry farmer field-school programme led by Climate Change Officer at ACDI/VOCA Nadia Ferguson and Peace Corps Volunteer and Project Assistant Sarah Marshall. Elements of the programme included interactive sessions, which sought to facilitate the teaching of agro best practices and new techniques through theory, as well as a hands-on and in-the-field experience.

Keystone programme

Ferguson told Western Focus that farmer field school was one of the keystone programmes of the Ja-REEACH project.

"This is our 10th school that is being launched and it is really a school with a difference; it's a school without borders. We have technical exchange and facilitation between farmers, so what they are learning is how agro-forestry can help them to adapt to climate change as well as improve their economic livelihood."

According to Buck, the training programme will go a far way in building the capacity of the farmers as it relates to climate change and agribusiness.

"We will also be engaged in fund-raising activities as one of the stipulations is that we match 25 per cent of the funds, which will go towards purchasing a pool of farming tools for our farmers within the group so that those who cannot afford tools can also benefit from this programme," he added.