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Improving
Agriculture
in South St. Elizabeth
The Bread Basket of Jamaica
By Vincent Thompson, Agriculture Specialist, JSIF
St Elizabeth has often been referred to as the “Bread Basket” With the impact of climate change, the anticipated rainfall
parish of Jamaica due to its contribution to vegetable and fluctuated over the last five years with longer drought periods
seasoning production. Historically however, rainfall in South and shorter periods of rainfall. During 2015, Jamaica and
St Elizabeth has been below the national average. Despite specifically Southern St Elizabeth, experienced a prolonged
this reality, the people in South St Elizabeth have engaged in drought due to the El Nino effect. This resulted in numerous
agriculture for more than 50 years. Agriculture has been their bushfires, destruction of crops, vegetable shortages, increased
main source of income and has contributed to the development water costs and a general decline in farming activity. The
of the parish. extreme drought conditions and the lack of a reliable supply
of irrigation water, further enhanced the harsh conditions in
Traditionally, the open-field farmers within South
St. Elizabeth practice “dry farming” which involves which the farmers had to operate. An article
minimum tillage, the application of dry blend in the Daily Observer on Thursday, July 30,
fertilizer, digging holes to sow seeds and the 2015 “Drought takes a toll in St. Elizabeth,
spreading of grass mulch. Due to the bauxitic nature of the Manchester”, echoed the plight of the drought
soil in the area, the soil moisture retention is very poor, and as situation stating that, “people with access to water are
such, the utilization of Guinea Grass as mulch is critical for struggling to keep their crops green”. This situation reduced
farming. Guinea Grass mulch is synonymous with South St. the farmers’ ability to maximize their productivity and produce
Elizabeth farming and grows naturally within the area. Prior to on a regular basis. Consequently, the inconsistencies in their
being used as mulch, the Guinea Grass is first harvested when production levels directly impacted the market supply for these
mature and then allowed to dry down for a day or two. Under crops and resulted in higher prices for the consumers.
this “dry farming” technique, farmers are reliant on rainfall
and the purchase of water to irrigate crops. To conserve on The plight of the farmers along with the high vegetable prices
the use of water to irrigate crops, farmers would hand-water did not go unnoticed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund’s
each plant with a sausage tin at least twice per day. This (JSIF) Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Project.
method of irrigation has been practised for many years and has A team comprising REDI staff and the National Irrigation
successfully produced moderately high yields of vegetables, Commission (NIC) Liaison Officer, met with the farmers and
despite the method being onerous for the farmers. conducted verification visits to assess the gravity of the drought
conditions which were affecting vegetable production. From
these visits, a JSIF/ REDI intervention was deemed necessary
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