Youth in agriculture – land distribution

YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE – LAND DISTRIBUTION

The Agro-Investment Corporation (Agro-Invest) is encouraging young farmers aged 18 to 35, to join the Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Programme. Engaging youths in agriculture has been a major initiative promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Agro-Investment Corporation. The programme is supported by the recently developed Youth in Agriculture Policy, under which the past Agriculture Minister, Hon. Floyd Green mandated Agro-Invest to reserve at least 20 per cent of available arable lands for leasing.

The Youth in Agriculture initiative is a collaborative effort between:

Agro-Invest;
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MOAF);
Jamaica 4-H Clubs; and
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

Objectives

To have 20% of Government lands being produced by youths
To improve access to markets and technical assistance to youths
To offer technical assistance from the participating entities
To provide business planning and consultation services to the youths at a subsidized cost.

Forty acres of land was identified at the Ebony Park Agro Park and reserved for the first cohort of applicants. The predominant soil found there is Sydenham Clay, which is suitable for growing crops such as Tubers, cucurbits (watermelon, Squash, Pumpkin, cucumber), tree crops (mangoes, Otaheite apples, papaya, and breadfruit), condiments and vegetables.

Expansion of the Youth in Agriculture Programme

During the 2^nd quarter of 2021, a promotional campaign was launched to invite interested youths to apply for land. The objective was to expand the programme and present each youth with the opportunity to invest in up to 5 acres of land, equipped with irrigation at a reduced lease rate payable in line with the crop cycle.

Over 250 youths submitted applications these were vetted by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and presented to the Corporation for review and selection. The Corporation commenced offering investment opportunities to youths at Ebony Agro Park, however under the expansion programme additional lands were identified on the following Agro Parks and Agricultural Production Zones :

Plantain Garden River (St. Thomas)
Ebony Park & Spring Plain (Clarendon)
Holland Estates (St. Elizabeth), and
New Pen & Non-Such (St. Mary)
Low Leyton/Lennox (Portland).

A total of forty (40) youths has been selected for placement. The primary goal of this expansion of the Youth in Agriculture Programme is to improve access to land, markets, and technical assistance to youths. A handing over ceremony of lease agreements to the 40 youths is scheduled for late April 2022.

It is anticipated that for the duration of the programme, the youths will maintain and operate a profitable agri-business, have at least 70 per cent of the land under production, be willing to work in groups and operate with Good Agricultural Practices (G.A.P).