REDI Highlights of Achievements

Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI)

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS Creating Economic Opportunities in Agriculture and Tourism

Jamaica Social Investment Fund

WHAT’S INSIDE 03

Overview of REDI

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Agriculture

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Tourism

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REDI Publications

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Partners for Development

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What we do (JSIF)

OVERVIEW OF REDI The main objective of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) funded by the Government of Jamaica with a loan from the World Bank and implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (2010-2017) was to improve market access for Micro and small scale rural agricultural producers and tourism product and service providers. The REDI has impacted in excess of the targeted 22,000 rural residents and has created direct employment for over 1,400 persons sustaining jobs for an additional 303 persons. Leveraging partnerships and relationships with key community stakeholders, REDI has invested USD$15 million for the development of innovative solutions for economic growth and job creation to include: • • • • • • • •

Protected agriculture Drip irrigation technology Water harvesting & storage Cold chain supply & post-harvest facilities Agro processing Livestock production Community tourism Capacity building & training 3

REDI has enhanced the agricultural sector through technology-driven interventions extension services, value chain development and market linkages. With climate change resilience and disaster mitigation strategies integrated to promote sustainable vegetable crop production.

AGRICULTURE

Critical Infrastructure and Equipment

Innovative & Climate Smart Technology Greenhouse Clusters & Water Harvesting JSIF in partnership with the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) has transformed mined out bauxite pits for rainwater harvesting to supply the 160 greenhouses constructed and equipped across 8 clusters in three parishes (St. Ann, Manchester and St. Elizabeth producing 762 tonnes of vegetable crops annually.

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Critical Infrastructure and Equipment

Innovative & Climate Smart Technology Drip Irrigation Technology & Water Storage Improved resilience against the effects of climate change among 1,153 famers in 13 communities across 5 parishes (Manchester, St Elizabeth, Trelawny, St Catherine and St Thomas) each benefitting from drip irrigation systems and harvesting crates. Increased Onion crop production.

60% increase in vegetable crop production among Tomato, Watermelon, Escallion, Cantaloupe, Cucumber, Cabbage etc.

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Critical Infrastructure and Equipment Agro Processing Post-harvest losses reduced from 30% to 6% for the 60 farmers who market their produce through the St. Mary Multi-Purpose Cooperative Cold Chain Supply and PostHarvest Facility, Annotto Bay, St. Mary Construction & equipping of seven (7) agro processing incubators in partnership with RADA in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, Trelawny, St. James, St. Mary and St. Catherine.

400 agro processors have access to facilities designed to satisfy HACCP requirements to improve their access to local and international markets.

Through facility upgrade and equipping The Flower Hill Bammy Factory (Flower Hill, St. James) is now able to satisfy local food safety standards resulting in increased market access.

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Critical Infrastructure and Equipment

Livelihoods of over 200 farmers secured owing to increased domestic and export market access attributed to improved drying of herbs and spices made possible by the Solar-powered South Manchester Herbs and Spices Drying Facility (Pratville, Manchester).

Improved flavor profile of Jamaican cocoa to supply export market in France that produces premium chocolate sourced from the 100 farmers who supply the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers Association Cocoa Drying Facility in Spring Gardens, Portland.

Market expansion achieved for 226 bee farmers in four western parishes who can now extract and bottle honey in a facility designed to satisfy HACCP requirements at the Hanover Bee Farmers’ Co-operative Honey Extraction and Bottling Facility.

Livestock Production Enhanced bio-security of the Pig Industry via the exclusion of migratory birds that transmit the H1N1 virus through the design and construction of three (3) 1950 sq. ft. Pig Rearing Facilities (Prospect, Manchester; Maggoty, St. Elizabeth; Corn Piece, Clarendon).

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Training and Capacity Building 200 persons including jerk vendors island wide were trained under the Food Safety & Quality Compliance for Pork Producers Project.

3,600 farmers were trained in record keeping, personal hygiene, food safety, sprayer calibration and good agricultural practices (GAP).

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2,000 Fishermen at 57 fishing beaches in 11 parishes were equipped with safety equipment and cold storage and trained by the Caribbean Maritime Institute in Basic Seamanship and Safety at Sea.

Farmer Field School (FFS), Greenhouse Vegetable Production and Greenhouse Construction Training, Business Management, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), Disaster Mitigation Training, Fire and Safety, CPR & First Aid.

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Training of 400 Fish Vendors in Public Health leading to Food Handlers Permit.

National Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Train the Trainers workshop for 120 Extension and Plant Quarantine Officers conducted by the University of Maryland Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, a USDA FDA approved institution as well as training in Good Aqua–culture Practices for key personnel in Ministry of Industry, Commerce Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF).

16 modern Food Safety Infrastructure compliant with US Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), inclusive of pesticide storage facility, packing shed, bathroom and change room were constructed for National Food Safety Compliance.

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Trained 22 Laboratory Technologists and equipped three laboratories that will form the nucleus of an Irish Potato Seed Production Industry.

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Marketing Farmers selling to new and dynamic markets including the high value tourism sector through linkages brokered by the Project with the large purveyors who supply both domestic and international markets.

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REDI has modeled the path for Community Tourism in Jamaica through an inclusive approach, development of the National Community Tourism Policy, National Community Tourism Portal and Community Tourism Toolkit, the provision of critical infrastructure and equipment and capacity building of Community Tourism Enterprises to enable increased market access.

TOURISM

Critical Infrastructure and Equipment Invested in Eight (8) Community Tourism Enterprises (CTEs) through the provision of infrastructure, training and capacity building, marketing and promotions. Activities & Experiences include Hikes and short tours, cabins and camping facilities, Boat Tours, cultural heritage tours, Eco-tourism, local artisans craft shop, art and handcraft workshops.

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Charles Town Maroon Council, Charles Town, Portland

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Pilot CTEs

Cockpit Country Adventure Tours Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA), Albert Town, Trelawny

Ambassabeth/ Bowden Pen Farmers Association, Portland Gap Recreation Area Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT), Portland Gap, St. Andrew 18

Bowden Pen, St. Thomas

Rastafari Indigenous Village / Rastafari Africa Hall Benevolent Society, Irwin St. James

Salt River Birding & Boat Tours Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (CCAM), Salt River, Clarendon

Treasure Beach Women’s Group and the Wider Treasure Beach area Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth

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Training and Capacity Building • Team Jamaica • Social media marketing • Market access • Costing and record keeping • Business Training through Community Tourism Bootcamps • Tour Guide Training

Marketing • Introduction of the Jamaica Community Experiences Brand and associated enterprises at JAPEX (Jamaica’s premier travel trade show) and the Jamaica Diaspora Conference.

• The development of an associated three year marketing plan and marketing collateral materials • The development of two photo banks of 400 photo images for use by the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Tourism Product Development Company.

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REDI Publications Tourism

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The National Community Tourism Policy & Strategy, April 2015 National Community Tourism Toolkit National Community Tourism Portal www.MoreToJamaica.com Jamaica Community Experiences brand and logo developed in conjunction with the Jamaica Tourist Board and registered with the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office.

Tourism Demand Study

Agriculture

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Pork Value Chain analysis and Pig Census Study for MICAF and the Jamaica Pig Industry.

An Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction Training Package for the Agricultural and Community Tourism Based Sectors Food safety and Quality Assurance Compliance for Slaughter Facilities Manual.

Assessment of the Current Technical and Infrastructural capacity of the Christiana Potato Growers’ Association, Bodles Research Facility, Scientific Research Council, and UWI Bio-technology Unit to undertake in-vitro production of plants.

Standardized On-Farm Record Keeping from Pig Breeding to Finish Manual.

Farm Record Book

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Partners for Development: In order to create impact and to support the growth agenda under the REDI Project, JSIF continued its partnership with the Municipal Corporations, the Public Health Department, Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners, WINDALCO, Alpart, the Scientific Research Council, Northern Caribbean University. Other partners included the following entities:

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Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries

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Rural Agricultural Development Authority

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National Irrigation Commission

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Jamaica Bauxite Institute

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Ministry of Tourism

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Jamaica Tourist Board

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Tourism Product Development Company

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Department of Co-operatives & Friendly Societies

What We Do •

Jamaica Social Investment Fund

JSIF has over 20yrs experience in implementing various types of projects and empowering communities through the delivery of practical and innovative solutions. Areas of expertise are:

Education (School Rehabilitation and Construction)

Community Spaces Development (Community Centres, Multipurpose Spaces & Sports Facilities )

Health (Health Centre Rehabilitation, Equipping)

Human Capacity Development (Summer Camps, Training, Parenting, Conflict Resolution, Income Generation, Entrepreneurship etc.)

Roads and Drainage (Road Rehabilitation, Drainage, Retaining Walls )

Agriculture (Irrigation, Agro-processing Facilities, Greenhouses, Markets) Tourism (Community-Based Tourism Attractions)

Energy & Environment (Solid Waste Infrastructure, Compactor trucks, Balers, Wood Chippers, House Wiring)

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Environmental Sustainability is integrated in all aspects of the JSIF’s project cycle

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JSIF has established partnerships with private and public entities that enable us to carry out cross sector collaboration and initiatives.

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GET TO KNOW MORE Jamaica Social Investment Fund The Dorchester (Ground Floor) 11 Oxford Road (Entrance on Norwood Avenue) Kingston 5 Tel: 876-968-4545 Fax: 876-929-3784 Website: www.jsif.org Email: feedback@jsif.org

www.moretojamaica.com