KINGSTON, Jamaica -Efforts to enhance the resilience of the agricultural sector and coastal areas will continue in the new fiscal year, supported by a $249-million allocation.

Provision for this amount has been made in the 2025/2026 Estimates of Expenditure which were recently tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams.

The project, which began in October 2012 aims to protect the livelihood and food security in vulnerable communities by improving land and water management for the agricultural sector, strengthening the protection of coastal areas, and building institutional capacity against climate-change risks.

Achievements of the project up to December 2024 include the completion of shoreline protection works (wall and composite revetment) at Buff Bay site one; 30,000 trees procured and planted in support of ecosystem restoration/reforestation; the construction of 90 metres of revetment at Orange Bay site one; the construction of 400 metres of coastal revetment at Annotto Bay site three, and four groynes were constructed and 12m3 of revetment completed at Annotto Bay site five.

In addition to this, partnership was established with the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and support provided to 16 school agricultural and environmental programmes; marine benthic assessments were completed; a climate change adaptation plan for Annotto Bay was done; training of shelter managers in six parishes was completed, and natural resource management training for St Mary and Portland was also done and training manuals produced.

For the 2025/2026 fiscal year, the project’s targets are to continue programme coordination and oversight activities; instal 118m of revetment at Buff Bay site two; undertake reconfiguration of the Motherford Drain outfall; complete revetment works at Annotto Bay site five; and conduct close-out activities and final reporting.

The project is being carried out through a collaboration between the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the National Works Agency (NWA).

Funding for the project is being supplied by the Government of Jamaica and the Adaptation Fund, an international body that finances projects and programmes that help developing countries adapt to climate change.

The project is expected to be completed in December 2025.

–         JIS