Jamaica launches project to protect agricultural sector and coastal areas

Andrea Braham in the Jamaica Information Service: Jamaica is taking steps towards enhancing the resilience of its agriculture sector and coastal areas in an effort to protect the livelihood and food security of its people.

The objectives will be achieved under the Jamaica Adaptation Fund Programme, which was formally launched on Friday by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.

The three-year project, which got underway last month, is being implemented through grants totaling US$9.965 million from the Adaptation Fund and has as its objective, “to protect livelihoods and food security in vulnerable communities by improving land and water management for the agricultural sector; strengthening coastal protection; and building institutional and local capacity for climate change adaptation”.

It will target groups including fisherfolk, farmers, tourism interests, including hoteliers and tour operators, and select government entities in eight parishes ‑ Westmoreland, specifically Negril; St. Thomas; St. Ann; Trelawny; St. Catherine; Clarendon, particularly the Bull Head region of the Rio Minho watershed; St. Mary; and Manchester....

Damage by Hurricane Ivan to trees lining beach at Whitehouse, Jamaica. Photo by User:Op. Deo November 20,2005: over one year later. Shot by Op. Deo at English Wikipedia, public domain