Small-scale irrigation projects are proving to be beneficial to a host of farmers in rural Jamaica. One such project is the St. Peter's Irrigation Project in the hills of St. Andrew. Over the years, the weather pattern has been very erratic, times of persistent drought and tims of over abundance of rainfall sufficient to destroy crops. To tackle the periods of drought, farmers voiced their concern to their RADA extension officers who in turn sought the financial assistance of Eastern Jamaica Agricultural Support Project (EJASP).

EJASP, with technical support from the RADA Irrigation Unit and Jamaica Drip Irrigation (JDI) came to the rescue of these farmers.

DESIGNING THE SYSTEM

The irrigation unit of RADA designed a system which tapped in the Yallahs River Head and piped water for about 2.5 kilometers down hill for farmers of Top Mountain in St. Peter's.

It Involded:-

Surveying the route from source to storeage tanks down to the last farm. Designing of Mainline to include pressure reducing valves, air valves etc. Designed Sump in order to divert and harness water at the source. Designed operation of the storeage tanks, and on farm irrigation systems. Supervised and assists with the installation of the mainline and the on-farm sprinkler

The farmers gave slavishly of their labour, as such, installation cost was minimized. To date 30 farmers are connected to the system and capacity for added connection exist. Neglected lands for several years have now been put into production. An increase of farming activities, mainly vegetables, have since taken place, and production yield higher. Follow-up visits and several training days after have provided the St. Peters farmers with the technical "know-how" to operate and maintain their irrigation system, include making their own connections. Funds to do O&M are raised by beneficiaries paying water fees.

In light of the contract agreed upon between the FARMERS, EJASP and RADA, assistance is also given in Land Husbandry, good production practices, coupled with Post Harvest and Marketing Techniques.

The dynamism that this group portrayed has earned them one of the World Food Day 2002 award. From the lips of the beneficiaries themselves they have agreed that, "this is the best thing that could happen, we have been patient, and have not waited in vain".