KINGSTON, Jamaica – Work on the Parnassus Agro Park in Clarendon, which falls under the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project, is now complete.

More than 60 farmers have been approved to operate within the park, which will commence operations in April, Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, announced on Thursday.

He provided the update during his 2025/26 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives.

Holness highlighted the country’s annual water woes associated with seasonal dry periods, adding that the Government has conducted “the most significant expansion of irrigation access in the history of Jamaica”.

He explained that the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project has now benefited more than 800 farms.

Meanwhile, the Essex Valley Irrigation Infrastructure Development Programme, which is set to benefit more than 1,000 farmers, is almost complete.

“The contract has been signed for the final element of that project – acquiring the pumps for the five wells. I look forward to commissioning this system, as your prime minister, in 2026,” Holness said.

To further strengthen Jamaica’s resilience to drought, the prime minister said the Government will commence civil engineering works for the $30-billion Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme, which will benefit more than 5,000 farmers, this financial year.

“This is an important project; it is going to unleash the productivity of that area. I am happy… that I will be able to commission that project,” Holness said.

The Government is also investing in expanding its cold storage facilities to be used in times when there is an oversupply of produce as currently experienced with tomatoes.

In addition to the $124-million state-of-the-art facility in Kirkvine, Manchester, for which ground was broken last month, the Government has commenced the procurement process to begin refurbishing works on the Coleyville cold storage facility in the parish.

–         JIS