South coast farmers get needed boost in time for the holidays

More than 50 farmers across the island’s south coast communities in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland have received grants totalling over $2.2 million to inject into the recovery of crops and livestock following losses experienced during the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July.

The grants, which value up to $45,000, were arranged by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Humanitarian Assistance Programme operated by the Canadian High Commission to Jamaica.

Executed by the Sandals Foundation, the programme, since October has been implementing a series of restorative projects to support the ongoing recovery efforts of residents’ livelihood and educational facilities post the storm.

Following a careful needs assessment by Breds Foundation, the Abilities Foundation and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), on Wednesday, December 18, members of the Sandals Foundation team delivered cash vouchers to 20 vegetable farmers in Treasure Beach, 10 visually-impaired female farmers in Junction, St Elizabeth and 22 poultry farmers in Darliston, Westmoreland.

“The last five months have not been easy for our island’s food producers with many not yet being able to find their footing,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation. “These cash vouchers will help in rebuilding damaged infrastructure, purchase needed input, supplies, and livestock to steadily resume their earnings and revive their livelihoods.”

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation in conversation with visually impaired farmer Shanique Powell as other farmers Sharon Powell and Sadie Brooks look on.

Shaniek Powell, 36 who has been blind for two years, and farming in St Elizabeth for almost the same period says, “Everything was destroyed in Beryl. We had cucumbers, we had watermelon, we had tomatoes, we had sweet peppers, and everything got destroyed. These funds will help me to buy farm supplies, get more things planted and expand on my beetroot farming.”

A similar story was shared by Trevor Rowe- a farmer of over 40 years who lost everything. “Hurricane Beryl mash we up. It mash up me house and me farm. This money will mend a gap. I will buy fertilizer, seeds, spraying materials and more. It will take about four months for things to come back.”

For teacher and part time farmer Allison Gayle in Treasure Beach, “I lost over 10 acres of plants.  I had a hard time getting back up [after Beryl] and it has significantly hampered my ability to rebound. The assistance will go a long way in helping me get fertilizer, pesticide and other input so I can go on to feed the nation again.”

Farmer and father Jermaine Wellington, of Little Park in St Elizabeth looks on at his beetroot farm with his son in hand.

The farmers’ livelihood initiative forms part of a wider $5.7 million humanitarian outreach and disaster relief project under the Humanitarian Assistance programme of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

Moving forward the Sandals Foundation will work alongside local fisherfolk in south coast communities to sustainably address immediate needs.

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) provides modest funding for small-scale, high-impact projects in more than 120 countries eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA). Projects are planned and implemented mainly by local organisations and are selected and approved by the relevant Canadian Embassy or High Commission.