Growth & Jobs | Gov’t, JOAM launch soil health and agricultural productivity project

BACKED BY a grant of $35 million, The Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement(JOAM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, is now launching the Jamaica Soil Regeneration and Fertility Improvement (JENESYS) Project, which aims to revitalise Jamaica’s soil health and significantly reduce the country’s dependency on imported agricultural materials.

JENESYS is expected to last for three years and is designed to address the long-standing issue of soil depletion resulting from extractive agricultural practices, limited understanding of soil biology, and the adverse effects of climate change. It should benefit organic and conventional farmers, householders, and consumers by fostering a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.

Its objectives are to reduce soil health, to reduce import dependency, to mitigate climate change, to introduce advanced practices, to spur economic growth and job creation, and to raise public awareness.

The project will focus on rebuilding soil health using compost, an affordable and accessible source of fertility. Farmers will receive training in soil- and water-management techniques to enhance soil biodiversity. By improving soil fertility locally, the project aims to decrease Jamaica’s reliance on imported food and fertilisers and to address climate-change concerns as a key component, promoting practices that bolster soil resilience.

Also, the project will introduce soil-regeneration techniques such as mulching, cover cropping, crop rotation, and live contour barriers suited to Jamaica’s diverse topography and climate. The initiative seeks to stimulate economic activities and job opportunities, contributing to the country’s gross domestic product. A core goal is to raise public awareness about the critical importance of regenerating Jamaica’s unique natural environment.

JENESYS encompasses a range of activities, including comprehensive soil testing to establish baseline soil-health metrics and training programmes to educate farmers on Johnson-Su composting, vermicomposting, Hügelkultur, and advanced soil- and water-management techniques.

Collaborative islandwide training including joint training sessions with JOAM and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and other government extension services, spanning over two years, and biochar production, including establishing facilities in each parish for producing biochar, collaborating with traditional charcoal producers, and facilitating local distribution are a part of the plan.

Additionally, there will be an application of effective microorganisms (EM), including training on EM to enhance soil microbiomes; an organic waste collection pilot project, in partnership with the National Solid Waste Management Authority and municipal corporations to utilise organic waste for compost; and a public education campaign, utilising various media platforms to educate and engage the public on soil regeneration and sustainability practices.

JENESYS is now embarking upon a series of composting workshops across the island. The next ones will be today, June 18, at Twisting Creek Ital Farm in Airy Castle, St Thomas; at Innerspace Transformation, New Road, St Margaret’s Bay, Portland, tomorrow, June 19; at Solidarity Yaad, Blackstonedge, St Ann on Tuesday, June 25; and on Wednesday, June 26, at Salvation Army School for the Blind at 57 Mannings Hill Road, St Andrew.

According to Nicola Shirley-Phillips, project head, JENESYS is “an initiative that is set to revolutionise Jamaica’s agricultural landscape and support our nation’s sustainability efforts. We are confident that the JENESYS project will not only transform our agricultural practices, but will also serve as a model for our sustainable development throughout the Caribbean. We are excited about the potential impact of this initiative and the positive changes it will bring to our community and environment,” she told The Gleaner.

To learn more about the project, members of the public may email joamltd.org@gmail.com, and joam@joamltd.org. The website is www.joamltd.org, while the phone number is (876) 791-1681. Registration for the composting workshops may be done at HTTP://FORMS.GLE/RTXYC6YACRNCMWRX8.