Petronia Colley, Project Manager of the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project (EVADP), leading proceedings at a consultation event, on Thursday, October 14, 2021. The project is funded through a £35.5 million grant, allotted through the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) and administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Work will commence shortly on the rehabilitation of 25 kilometres of roadway and installation of 70km of pipelines in several Essex Valley communities under the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project (EVADP).

Additionally, under the EVADP seven (7) pumping stations, inclusive of two booster stations, as well as marketing facilities systems, including an administrative building, a packing house, a produce handling facility and food safety sanitation areas will be constructed.

“Another critical part of this project is the use of renewable energy systems. We will be constructing a solar photovoltaic plant spanning 5.7 hectares of land for the irrigation system as well as installing energy efficient equipment,” stated Dermon Spence, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Spence was speaking at a community consultation held in Comma Pen, St. Elizabeth, on October 7 that was aimed at updating the residents on works being carried out under the project.

The Permanent Secretary said that upon completion of the key objective of project, the over 700 farmers operating on the 800 hectares of land in the Essex Valley region will benefit from an irrigation system that will deliver 1,700 cubit metres per hour of water from the five (5) productive wells that will be utilized.

The farmers, Spence said, will also gain access to associated marketing facilities and systems, as well as farmer advisory services.

Spence also pointed out the project is expected to result in a 50% increase in the production of crops such as scallion, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet pepper and tomatoes.

“Additionally, there will be a 70% increase in the number of farms with access to irrigation water” he said.

The Essex Valley area is one characterized by low rainfall and frequent droughts   which heavily impact the production and earning potential of the farmers. The Project will seek to bring reliable and consistent access to the much needed resource.

Key stakeholders on this phase of the project are N.O. Whyte and Associates, responsible for the irrigation network and road rehabilitation design and Politecnica/GDM Associates who will lead on the design of the agriculture buildings. 

The EVADP, which is financed with a £35,515-million grant from the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund and is administered by the Caribbean Development Bank, was launched in January 2019 and is expected to be completed by June 2023.

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