KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Government of Jamaica, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on Thursday, October 29, marked a major milestone in Jamaica’s agricultural development with the commissioning of the Amity Hall/Bridge Pen Irrigation System and the official launch of the Amity Hall/Bridge Pen Agro Park in St Catherine.

The development forms part of the Southern Plains Agricultural Development (SPAD) Project, a major investment in modern, climate-resilient agricultural infrastructure aimed at strengthening Jamaica’s food security, boosting agricultural productivity and creating new economic opportunities for farmers, particularly women and young people.

Funded primarily through the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF), in partnership with the CDB and the Government of Jamaica; the wider SPAD project covers 795 hectares of agricultural land across Amity Hall, St Catherine, and Parnassus, Clarendon, and is expected to benefit approximately 700 farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs.

The newly launched Amity Hall/Bridge Pen Agro Park spans 480 hectares and comprises approximately 143 agricultural lots. Its modern infrastructure includes a pumping station capable of supplying 46,000 cubic metres of treated irrigation water daily, a 20,000-cubic-metre reservoir, approximately 24 kilometres of irrigation pipelines and 13 kilometres of farm roads.

(from left to right) L. O’Reilly Lewis, Director of the Projects Department at the CDB; British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Alicia Herbert; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, the Hon. Floyd Green

The development also features a 100-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system expected to reduce electricity costs by approximately 15 per cent, helping to make agricultural production more efficient and sustainable.

Speaking at the ceremony, British High Commissioner to Jamaica Alicia Herbert, underscored the importance of the investment in building a more resilient agricultural sector while ensuring that its benefits reach communities across Jamaica.

“The Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project demonstrates the power of partnership to deliver real and lasting benefits for communities. By investing in modern, climate-resilient agricultural infrastructure, and investing in farmers themselves, we are helping farmers increase productivity, strengthen food security and build resilience in the face of climate change,” she said.

The high commissioner placed particular emphasis on the opportunities being created for women and young people, noting that more than 300 women farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs are expected to benefit directly from the investment.

“I am equally pleased that the project is helping to expand opportunities for women in agriculture. Through improved access to irrigated land, training and agricultural support services, more than 300 women farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs are expected to benefit directly from this investment,” she said.

She also highlighted the project’s focus on increasing participation among young people and persons with disabilities, describing the initiative as “inclusive development in action.”

The high commissioner noted that the investment was particularly significant as Jamaica, marked one year since Hurricane Melissa, which underscored the vulnerability of farming communities to extreme weather events and the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure.

For his part, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, highlighted the Government’s decision to prioritise agriculture when seeking support through the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund.

“When our friends from the United Kingdom established the Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, putting away £300 million pounds for the Caribbean and inviting member states to come to them with projects, the Government could have chosen any area to approach the UK government about; but the Government decided to seek the funds to help drive agriculture, because we believe that that will give us the greatest return on our investment,” Green said.

Meanwhile, L. O’Reilly Lewis, director of the Projects Department at the Caribbean Development Bank, said the investment demonstrates how improved agricultural infrastructure can deliver tangible benefits for farmers and strengthen food and water security.

Officials in front of the 100-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system-Amity Hall

“CDB is pleased to support this transformative project because it puts farmers in control of their future. With reliable water, drainage and access roads, harvests no longer hinge on rain, and every drop goes further to build water and food security across Jamaica and the region.” he said.

Beyond infrastructure, the SPAD project has supported agricultural training, improved market linkages and expanded access to agricultural land for women and young people. Some 576 stakeholders have received training, while 60 farmers have benefited from support through the project’s Matching Grant Scheme.

The investment is expected to support increased production of crops including onions, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, hot peppers, cassava, mangoes and papayas, while improving farmers’ access to markets and strengthening rural livelihoods.

The SPAD project forms part of the United Kingdom’s wider commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience across the Caribbean through UKCIF, a UK grant-funded programme delivered in partnership with the CDB.

Jamaica is the largest beneficiary of UKCIF support, with investments focused on strengthening critical infrastructure, supporting economic development and building resilience to climate change.

Thursday’s commissioning and launch represent another significant step in the long-standing partnership between Jamaica, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Development Bank, translating international cooperation into practical improvements for farmers, communities and Jamaica’s agricultural future.