THE Government has taken a major step to realising the dream of irrigating some 810 hectares of farm land in the southern belt of Manchester and St Elizabeth under the Essex Valley Agricultural Development Project, signing a contract with Wigton Windfarm Limited and its joint venture partner, Innovative Energy Company DBA SPEI Limited, to produce power for a new irrigation network being constructed in that section of the island.

A release from Wigton Windfarm to the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday noted that the renewable energy company and its joint venture partner have been contracted for the design, supply, and installation of distributive solar photovoltaic systems, plus storage, at certain locations in the area.

The contract, valued at US$7.3 million, was signed on March 13, with Wigton and Innovative Energy given 18 months to deliver.

“This is a comprehensive and critical project to stregthen our resilience in the agriculture sector,” Pearnel Charles Jr, minister of agriculture and fishieries, told the Jamaica Observer. “It includes the extensive irrigation network, training of farmers [in] agro-processing, and the infusion of solar….all towards greater efficiency and long-term sustainabality,” he continued, adding that “Its part of the overall project and introduction of innovative methods for greater efficiency.”

The provision of the energy solution for the project forms one of seven components to finalising the Essex Valley Agricultural Development Project that is being funded by a grant equivalent to £35.5 million from the United Kingdom through the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Development Fund (UKCIF) and administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Despite this component moving ahead, the entire project is, however, facing another delay. Set initially for a June 2023 completion, it was announced last April that the completion date would be delayed by six months. However, the Caribbean Business Report was informed that the project’s completion is now expected at the end of 2025. It is not clear if the delayed timeline has affected the cost of the project.

The Essex Valley Agricultural Development Project area includes the major farming communities of Junction, Bull Savannah, Lititz, Nain, New Forest and Comma Pen. The project will provide an irrigation system to include the construction of wells, pumping stations, and associated water distribution infrastructure via a renewable energy power plant so as to partially meet the electricity requirements of the pumps and pumping equipment and agri-buildings for construction in the project area. Overall there are approximately 350 farmers and 700 stakeholders who will benefit from the implementation of this project.