The United Kingdom (UK) Government has pumped £17.3 million (J$3.5 billion) into the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project, which includes the Parnassus Irrigation System and Agro-Park in Clarendon.

The commissioning of the system and official project launch was marked on April 23 by the Government of Jamaica.

According to the British High Commission in Jamaica, “the transformational project” is being funded through the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF).

Launched in 2016, UKCIF is a £350 million programme (J$72.3 billion) that’s funded by the UK Government and implemented in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). UKCIF supports high-quality, climate-resilient infrastructure that drives economic growth and has lasting social impact.

The high commission said the project will play a major role in Jamaica’s agricultural transformation. “The initiative aims to improve irrigation, infrastructure, and climate resilience for farming communities in Clarendon and St Catherine,” it said.

The high commission said the UK’s investment is unlocking significant improvements, including:

-Nearly 400 hectares of irrigated farmland

-9.6 million gallons of water supplied daily

-12 kilometres of newly-built roads

-Upgraded storage and handling facilities for crops

Representing the UK Government at Wednesday’s commissioning, British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Judith Slater, noted that Jamaica is the joint largest beneficiary of UKCIF with an overall allocation of £53.2 million (J$11 billion).

She noted that the project was one of two major agricultural initiatives being supported by the UKCIF in Jamaica, alongside the Essex Valley Agricultural Development Project. Both were selected by the GoJ to enhance food security and reduce the vulnerability of farmers to climate change by ensuring reliable water access year-round.

Slater reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting inclusive and climate-resilient economic growth across the region.

“We are opening the way to harvest opportunity, turning challenges into growth. This project is not only about infrastructure; it’s about ensuring that support reaches those who need it most, including women, youth, and people with disabilities, to build more resilient and productive livelihoods,” said Slater.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who gave the keynote address, outlined the significance of the partnership while stating that he was “very happy to turn over the project to our farmers”.

“Jamaica has about 40 per cent of its land mass arable, meaning you can farm it. Of that, only about 15 per cent would be irrigated. With this (Parnassus) and Essex Valley-the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project, we will probably get close to 20 per cent of our arable lands irrigated…,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Mining and Fisheries, Floyd Green said, “This is extremely important to us in agriculture because we know that for decades farmers have faced tremendous challenges with water and access to water and tremendous challenges around tenureship of land…the UK set up a fund for infrastructure across the Caribbean and asked countries to submit proposal around what they believe are the best use for those resources…and I think we can all be proud that this Government prioritised agriculture and irrigation as the best use of those funds.”