Stakeholders Validate Project to Strengthen Climate Resilience of Small Farmers in Central Jamaica
Over 50 stakeholders from government, civil society,academia and farming communities gathered recently for the validation workshop of the‘ADAPT Jamaica: Enhancing Climate Change Resilience of Vulnerable Smallholders in CentralJamaica’ project, an initiative targeting small farmers across six central parishes
-(1).jpeg?sfvrsn=fb9a1813_1 "Stakeholders Validate Project to Strengthen Climate Resilience of Small Farmers in Central Jamaica")
©FAO/Dainalyn Swaby
Over 50 stakeholders from government, civil society, academia and farming communities gathered recently for the validation workshop of the ‘ADAPT Jamaica: Enhancing Climate Change Resilience of Vulnerable Smallholders in Central Jamaica’ project, an initiative targeting small farmers across six central parishes. The workshop was held on March 27 at the Terra Nova Al-Suite Hotel in Kingston.
Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), the project seeks to address climate challenges that have constrained agricultural productivity and farmers’ access to financing.
The workshop served as a key milestone in finalizing the project design, which aims to boost resilience in Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, St. Catherine, and Manchester through climate-resilient agriculture and food loss and waste reduction practices and technologies.
“Jamaica’s agriculture sector is one of the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change,” said System Operations and Environmental Manager, Dr. Milton Clarke of JSIF, GCF-accredited delivery partner for the project. “The ADAPT Jamaica project, is intended to mitigate some of those risks that we are experiencing in our agriculture sector. It is aimed at improving farmers' adaptability to climate change and to improve the enabling environment.”
JSIF will also provide co-financing to the tune of US$5.6 million for the project.Participants reviewed and provided feedback on crucial elements of the project including the project's stakeholder engagement plan, gender action plan, environmental and social safeguards, and beneficiary selection criteria.
Special emphasis was placed on ensuring that farmers played an active role in shaping the feedback process.
“This workshop is an important milestone in the project development. We validated the solutions from climate-resilient agriculture to food loss and waste technologies with farmers, government entities and civil society,” said Jacinto Buenfil, FAO Policy Officer. “I particularly appreciated the participation of young farmers who are interested in the project. Buenfil also noted the questions raised by youth regarding access to land have informed considerations around formal leasing agreements to enhance their participation.
“The reception of the project is very good and has the potential to transform the way that agriculture is done in the six parishes, where the project is aimed”, he furthered.
Jenifer Thomas from Clarendon, one of several farmers who attended the session, expressed optimism about the project's benefits and potential to enhance food security and availability of local produce.
“I found this workshop interesting. Based on what was shared, I see where we [farmers] can feed ourselves in Jamaica, we don’t have to rely on other countries. If we get help, we can push more and go further with what we grow locally.”
The project will focus on five key areas: building capacity in climate-resilient farming and value chains; improving access to water management and post-harvest technologies; providing tailored climate services and advisory support; advancing policies and incentives for climate-smart agriculture; and strengthening financial institutions to offer customized funding solutions for smallholders.
The ADAPT Jamaica project is expected to be implemented in 2026 and will run for approximately six years.
Contact
Dainalyn Swaby
Communication Consultant
FAO Representation in Jamaica, The Bahamas and Belize