KINGSTON, Jamaica -The Government is to spend US$200 million on the Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme, which Prime Minister Andrew Holness has described as “a national strategic project”.

Holness made the announcement about the project on Thursday during his contribution to the 2023/24 Budget Debate. He said the work will be undertaken with the help of the French Government.

He also disclosed that funding for the project will be a combination of the Jamaican Government’s own resources as well as grants and loan funding from the French Government.

The prime minister said that for far too long the farmers on the plains of St Elizabeth have suffered from a lack of water.

“The plains of St Elizabeth are among the most fertile in the country. Farmers, despite not having access to irrigation, have proven to be the best in the world in using very low water supply to grow very productive crops,” he stated.

Holness said the feasibility study on the viability of taking water from the Black River to the plains of St Elizabeth has been completed.

“Not only is the project feasibility, but the team of French engineers has already designed the system and costing its implementation,” he said.

Apart from the farmers, the communities that will benefit from the project include Flagaman, Greenfield, Southfield and Top Hill.