Agriculture is a male dominated sector (STATIN); of the 211,500 individual farmers 160,300 are male and 51,200 female. Females are smallholders of lot sizes and are heavily impacted by production constraints related to land tenure and access. An advantage of aquaponics is that it produces up to 10 times more crop yield and requires a smaller footprint. The project will actively encourage the participation of both male and female but it will schedule project activities taking into consideration the roles and responsibilities of women as care givers.
Based on the vast interest that this project has generated, there is high possibility that it will be replicated. During implementation, the group was able to attract other donors (local and international) where cash support was raised to expand the initiatives and to allow for the procurement of key equipment to ensure sustainability.
There are also plans to develop a 'How To Guide' on aquaponics.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
Decisions and assumptions regarding the resources, strategies and processes will be documented and shared with project participants, visitors to the facility and lessons learned will be used as a platform for dialogue between and among project participants and stakeholders. These lessons will be captured and published through reports and shared in face to face session such as the Denbigh Agricultural Show.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Project goals, activities and results will be communicated through presentations, photographs and audiovisual productions. Local and regional stakeholders such as the SDC, RADA and Noranda Bauxite will host links to the project website as the intention of the group is to upscale the project activities to better train, facilitate agri-tourism and to supply larger markets.
Policy Impact
The project aims to foster project replication in other locations within Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
Policy Influence
The project has influenced government policy where the demonstration site has spurred the interest of and has been visited by officers of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries. These entities are very interested in the benefits and advantages of the techniques and technology utilized in combating the impacts of climate change and
contributing to food security. Aquaponics is a growing interest with popularity amongst the NGO/CBO communities and government agencies in and around Jamaican rural communities can sustainably utilize and revitalize mined out lands through lease agreements with the government, to establish community based social enterprises such as aquaponics. The objective is to push for a policy change where these lands after being sustainably managed by community members, (mostly females) will eventually be
owned by them.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The project is designed to execute environmentally driven activities geared towards improving the overall resilience to natural hazards and climate change impacts while increasing the socio-economic benefits to residents of the Calderwood Community. In this community where the soil is the only hope for many farmers threats from intensified droughts, increasing temperatures, irregular precipitation, land degradation and unsustainable farming techniques have devastated agricultural production. With no access to potable water, framers depend on rainfall for their produce. Project activities will promote alternative energy options, improve natural resources management and strengthen resilience through the use of climate smart aquaponics, solar energy and water harvesting to manage and sustain agricultural production.
Notable Community Participation
The project will take place in the Calderwood Community of St. Ann on reclaimed bauxite lands and will entail the construction of a commercial scale solar-powered aquaponics greenhouse which will serve as a training and demonstration centre for women and youth as agri-preners. The socio-economic benefits provide an incentive which attracts and encourages participation.
Capacity - Building Component
The vast majority of persons in the Calderwood community are farmers whose sole income is from farming. The project will provide hands on training and capacity development sessions to community members who will participate in the construction of the aquaponics system. Additionally, generated surplus from the sale of products will be allocated to the maintenance and start-up of project participants. Income from Agri-tours will be put back into the maintenance and expansion of the system.
Planning gef grant
There are plans to up-scale the project?s activities and outreach. Through further capacity and training development, inclusion of bio-diversity conservation efforts on the demonstration site, value-added production equipment and facility and establishment of a small office the group is hopeful to create further environmental, social and economic benefits within the community and surrounding communities.
Project sustainability
There is high potential to sustain the positive impacts of the project through creation of a community social enterprise which should generate sufficient revenues through sales of fish and vegetables. The group is working to establish a transparent management structure and strong community-based governance to ensure sustainability. The group is currently in contact with possible buyers of products to be produced and the feedback has been very positive.
Project Results
Completed Activities:
-Trained and sensitized community members on aquaponics and business development
- Workshops held on climate change and gender inequalities, roles, and decision-making
- Established partnerships with key multisector stakeholders
- Procured and Installed solar photovoltaic system
- Trained and sensitized Community members on solar energy and its application in aquaponics
- Secured sale contracts with two businesses
LAND DEGRADATION
2.33 hectares of mined out lands were reclaimed and utilized in agribusiness and entrepreneurial development through the use of climate smart agricultural techniques.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Community members participated in climate change sensitization workshops, field study and peer learning trips to a university (College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) University) and hybrid aquaponics farms. This allowed them to be exposed to climate change mitigation strategies, such as climate smart agricultural techniques and technologies that reduce environmental risks, provide food security and livelihood opportunities:
9 female community members participated in the construction of the aquaponics greenhouse and were provided with training and income generation opportunities.
24 male community members participated in the construction of the aquaponics greenhouse and were provided with training and income generation opportunities.
A photovoltaic system was installed in the community based on a recommendation by the group's technical expert. They utilized the island's power company (Jamaica Public Service Company Limited) in conjunction with solar power to create a grid-tie modality which would come out to be less expensive, easier to maintain and will lead to better sustainability of the project by the community members compared to an off-grid design. This has resulted and will result in increased community resilience to the effects of climate change.
GENDER EQUITY
The project was conceived to focus on the empowerment of women due to the demographic of the community consisting mainly of women single headed households than men and the nature of aquaponics requiring nurturing in which women are natural nurturers. The project assistants consisted of male and female community members. Women from the community were vital in marketing and registering community members for the trainings and workshops.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Eighty (80) community members (25-youths, 31 females and 24 males) participated in various stages
of the project. Access to adaptive aquaponics and solar power trainings, climate change and gender workshops and peer learning experiences, have enhanced community members capacity to solve climate related problems and overcome production constraints.
Of significant note was the group's experience and participation in a South-South Exchange in Mexico on commercial Aquaponics and the benefits of such an initiative to combating the impacts of climate change while contributing to sustainable livelihoods and food security. The exchange was organized between the SGP teams in Mexico and Jamaica. The project manager was able to obtain first-hand information and exposure to other aquaponics operations, processes and plans. Site visits to a top aquaculture research institution that focused on community outreach and women empowerment and an experienced private operator of a successful commercial aquaponics business provided increased knowledge on aquaponics. This has served to strengthen the community's knowledge and management of natural resources and the use of renewable energy technology.
