INCREASING ACCESS TO CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE: AQUAPONICS IN JAMAICA

In Jamaica, climate-related events have been identified as major threats to the agricultural sector, which represents about 7% of GDP and employs about 18% of the country's population. As climate change threatens economic opportunities for small-scale farmers, it is imperative to introduce new business models and technologies that will enable farmers to adapt and thrive. To address these challenges, INMED Caribbean initiated a multi-year project using commercial-scale aquaponics to promote water efficiency, build resilience, and enhance livelihoods for small-scale commercial farmers supplying the local market.

The project goal is to increase economic opportunities for small-scale farmers while reducing vulnerability to climate change and minimizing adverse environmental impacts. The strategy involves implementing an agri-business development program focused on making aquaponics a commercially viable technology for small and medium-scale Jamaican farmers, including women, youth and disabled farmers, while improving their market access and resilience to climate change.

The project will equip farmers with the technical knowledge and basic business planning and management skills needed for commercial farm operations. This will be done through a training and loan prequalification program consisting of interactive online modules, hands-on workshops, and internships.

Once participants have successfully completed the online training program, including the completion of a business plan, they are eligible to apply for loan financing with a pre-selected group of financial institutions. Once approved for a loan, farmers begin build-out of their systems with INMED support; receiving intensive hands-on training and close monitoring to support productivity.