Climate-Smart Water Management in Support of Agricultural Production - the Ja REEACH Experience

INTRODUCTION

Climate change impacts are decidedly negative on the Jamaican agricultural landscape

Threatens the lives and livelihoods of folks in rural communities whose lives depend significantly on agriculture.

Management of harvested water from its collection to application to crops in a production system provides a holistic approach to show case effective adaption measures in dealing with drought and critical water unavailability events.

TARGET AUDIENCE AND LOCATIONS

Projects funded in St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth and Clarendon will be discussed

Intervention focused on water use efficiency innovations across three areas

Water collection, distribution and soil moisture retention

Targeted audience: Vegetable farmers Students involved in after school enrichment activities.

The cases highlighted show the various adaptation actions in response to drought, high temperature and very windy conditions

CASE 1: Garvey Maceo High School

Climate Change Challenge:Drought and high temperatureInadequate rainfall; Rainfall variability; Unreliable

pressurized irrigation water supplyResulted in restricted production of outfield vegetable

crop production to include scotch bonnet peppers

CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE SOLUTION:1. Underground water storage tank renovated2. Drip irrigation system - outfield and protected

structure3. Shade house for high value crop production –

sweet pepper4. Mulch – plastic for outfield and ground cover for

the shade houseDirect beneficiaries:1,500 students and staff

CASE 2: Mount Pleasant Farmers Association Climate Change Challenge: Drought Inadequate rainfallRainfall variabilityRestricted the production of outfield vegetable

crop production to include scotch bonnet peppers, leaf lettuce and tomatoes

CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE SOLUTION:1. In-field protected production structure water

run-off harvested2. Drip irrigation system - outfield and protected

structure3. Mulch – plastic for outfield Direct beneficiaries: 15 farmers

CASE 3: MUNRO COLLEGEClimate Change Challenge:Drought and strong windsInadequate rainfallRainfall variabilityRestricted the production of outfield vegetable

crop production to include scotch bonnet peppers

CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE SOLUTION:1. Water harvested from existing permanent structures on the schools

property - dorms, class rooms and administrative buildings

2. Drip irrigation system - outfield and protected structure

3. Mulch – plastic for outfield and ground cover for protected structures

4. Protected structure erected

Beneficiaries:1,000 students and staff

Summary

Harvested-water production systems do have an important role to play in allowing farming communities to protect their lives and livelihoods and thus build resilience in the face of climate change

Crops that were discontinued are possible once againMarket timing now possible. The farming enterprise

can participate in the market when the price of the targeted produce is elevated

Allows for the introduction of crops that prior to then could not be produced owning to scarcity of water