Poultry House inspected during livelihood assessment in Kitson Town ©FAO

The 'Improving Rural Livelihoods through Resilient Agrifood Systems' project is making significant strides in Kitson Town, St. Catherine, by providing essential livestock and protective agriculture support to 80 farming beneficiaries. As part of the initiative, a series of comprehensive site assessments and validation activities were conducted to confirm the suitability of locations identified by the beneficiaries.

The project's main objective is to provide skills training and introduce innovative agricultural solutions to boost sustainable agriculture and rural development in the community. Prior to the site assessments, over 100 participants received training on Livestock and Protected Agriculture on April 30. This training session introduced participants to the effects of climate change on livestock and various protective agriculture solutions to be implemented under the project. These training sessions and related activities form a crucial part of the project's strategy to enhance income and employment opportunities for the residents of Kitson Town.

The assessments were conducted by a collaborative team comprising members from the 'Improving Rural Livelihoods through Resilient Agrifood Systems' project, the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA), the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), and the Kitson Town Community Development Committee. RADA and AIC worked closely with the FAO project team to ensure that the assessment instruments were comprehensive, field-appropriate, and captured essential data to support effective implementation.

The site assessments highlighted critical gaps and opportunities to build community, economic, and climate resilience. The assessment matrices designed for this purpose considered factors such as land tenure, location and surroundings, infrastructure, and the condition of livestock facilities. Protective agriculture sites were evaluated for factors including elevation, topography, water availability, electricity, communication access, and proximity to markets.

According to the project team, the assessment approach was crucial for validating information that supported the identification of beneficiaries and determining their respective needs. It also provided deeper insights into the areas with the most significant impact on farmers' production and products.

The findings revealed that waste management in livestock production needs strengthening and highlighted the reliance of farmers on rain-fed systems. In response to these gaps, the project will develop the capacity of farmers in waste management and its implications for a sustainable environment and livestock system. Targeted training activities and resource provision will be offered to increase the capacity of farmers to adopt and implement agricultural technologies. These technologies include surveillance systems to reduce incidents of praedial larceny, enhanced livestock and crop monitoring, water harvesting, storage, and drip irrigation to address water supply challenges.

The next steps include final approval of the beneficiaries and individual support by the National Project Steering Committee, followed by the development of technical specifications for the agricultural solutions to be provided to farmers. These efforts will seek to reduce climate and other vulnerabilities impacting agri-food systems, promote improved environmental management, and expand opportunities for greater income generation, thus strengthening financial resilience and rural development.

Sargeant Novelette Leachman, Station Manager at Guanaboa Vale Police Station, expressed her appreciation for the initiative, stating, "I really appreciate this initiative because it will assist local farmers with their expansion. It will also boost other citizens to get on board with this project, increase job opportunities, and ensure that the produce is of a satisfactory standard."

The project, Improving Rural Livelihoods through Resilient Agrifood Systems is a United Nations South-South Cooperation project, funded by the Government of India and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with Government of Jamaica partners.