MINISTER of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green wants the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) to start developing small irrigation schemes for drought-stricken farmers.

Answering questions from the floor at the launch of Denbigh 69 — touted as the biggest agricultural, industrial and food show in the region — at the Hi-Pro factory in Spanish Town last Wednesday, Green admitted that the failure to make water more readily available to these farmers by pumping it from nearby streams is a major problem in the agricultural sector.

“And I have said to the National Irrigation Commission, that we are spending a little too long waiting on the big water projects. A lot of the water projects are capital intensive. They cost a lot of money. We have some good ones going. We are doing the Essex Valley, with 810 hectares coming under irrigation water supply, which is a $35-million project. We are doing the southern plans, another 400 hectares. We have already scope the Pedro Plains, which is about 2,000 hectares and is a $200-million project. But, what we want to do, in the interim, is to look at where we can develop more small irrigation schemes,” Green stated.

He said that he has advised the NIC to do two things: Use old parish water tanks dating back some 50 years; and (2) build more small irrigation schemes.

He said that there are a number of parishes with community tanks that were built some 50 years ago, a lot of which are in agricultural areas which are no longer being utilised.

“So, I am saying to the NIC, why not repurpose those tanks and use them to supply irrigated water to the farmers. I am saying to the NIC, look around the parishes to see if we can identify those tanks with the parish council, and see if we can put them back into use and run irrigated water supplies from them?” he suggested.

Secondly, he said that there are also areas where rain water harvesting catchment tanks are available, and, “if we were to do that, it would lower the cost to the farmer”.

Green said that, while the effort might not supply the farmers with their every need, it might take off 30 per cent of their costs, which would be their profit.

He reminded the farmers that while more tanks could be set up for their use, it would be necessary to truck more water into those areas to keep up with their farm’ needs.

“So, we are [also] looking to see where we can do the water shop concept, or in lieu of that until we get to prepare for that, you must get some more trucks into the NIC fleet,” he noted.

Green also pointed out the ministry has already ordered three trucks for this year, and wants to see what else can be done for the rest of the year.

“We are looking at parish tanks to see where we can use those community tanks. We are looking at small irrigation systems, including catchment tanks, and we are looking to bring some trucks into the NIC fleet. It will take us sometime but, you know, we will get to it,” he concluded.

The annual Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show is scheduled for Denbigh, Clarendon, August 5-7, featuring three days of exhibitions, food, drinks and gospel and reggae shows. The event is hosted by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and the main sponsor is Hi-Pro, producers of farm products.