Aid in Action
Windsor Castle Farmers Increase Sweet Pepper Production
Group obtains financing for irrigation
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Thursday, August 30, 2007
USAID Jamaica
Ms. Taylor proudly displays a successful pepper crop achieved with help from USAID.
If Jamaica is to realize sustained economic growth and poverty reduction, an enabling environment must be created within which the private sector can be the catalyst for economic growth. In order for that growth to be sustained it must also be equitably distributed throughout the population, which means that efforts must be undertaken to address the need for growth and development in rural areas.
USAID is addressing the need for rural development in the parish of St. Mary by providing grants through the Rural Enterprise, Agriculture and Community Tourism (REACT) Project to small community based organizations such as the Windsor Castle Farmers Group. The group is engaged in the growing of vegetables – tomatoes, cabbage, sweet peppers, scotch bonnet peppers, which are sold to local markets and food processors. The group has long lost a large percentage of their crops to improper irrigation and as a result, they were unable to sustain produce contracts with large vendors in the hotel and hospitality industry.
USAID’s intervention allowed the farmer’s group to obtain the financing needed to acquire drip irrigation system and water tanks to provide a consistent supply of water for irrigation and fertilization of the crops. There is an existing market for the vegetables and the acquisition of the tanks and drip system has allowed for the increase in production and ultimately an increase in sales and an improvement in the standard of living of the farmers in the rural areas in which they live and work. As the group produces more crops on a consistent basis, employment opportunities for persons in the community will also be increased.
“We are so very thankful and grateful to USAID for the resources we have received to install needed irrigation equipment. Now, we will be able to produce three times as many sweet peppers and we no longer have to fear drought," says Secretary and Accountant Ms. Janet Wilson of the Windsor Castle Farmers Group.
As a result of USAID’s help, The Windsor Castle Farmers Group is now a viable community agricultural cluster that practices sustainable management. In addition, farmers such as Ms. Taylor can now count on increased yields/production and consistent sales of quality produce to the tourism industry in Jamaica.