Green leads Jamaican delegation to international irrigation congress

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green is leading a Jamaican delegation to the 26th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage in Marseille, France, as Jamaica moves to strengthen water security and expand irrigation to support increased agricultural production. The October 12–17 congress, organised by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), brings together policymakers, researchers, technical experts and water management professionals to examine sustainable approaches to agricultural water management. Green is accompanied by National Irrigation Commission (NIC) Chief Executive Officer Joseph Gyles and Acting Director of Projects Emile Myers. Held under the theme “Water and Agricultural Resilience in the Face of Climate Change”, the congress focuses on climate adaptation, water-use efficiency, innovative irrigation technologies and alternative water sources. Green said Jamaica’s participation is critical as the country grapples with drought conditions and seeks to improve access to irrigation for farmers. “The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries thought it very important to participate in this international dialogue around irrigation and drainage. The climate has changed and clearly we are going through a terrible drought, and we have to look at best practices across the world to expand our irrigation,” Green said in a recent statement from the ministry. He is also participating in high-level discussions at the congress, including deliberations around the Marseille Call, which seeks to strengthen the place of agriculture in global discussions and decision-making around water. “We have to look at best practices across the world to expand our irrigation and to also take care of things like soil health, retention of water and to ensure that, as the Marseille Call is advocating for, that agriculture ministers are at the table when discussions about water are being had,” the minister said. Jamaica has been placing increased focus on irrigation and water security as critical components of its drive to increase domestic agricultural production, particularly in areas that have significant productive capacity but remain constrained by inadequate access to water. Among the major projects being advanced is the Pedro Plains Irrigation Expansion Project in St Elizabeth, which is intended to bring approximately 4,103 hectares under improved irrigation and benefit an estimated 6,267 farm families. The project is aimed at unlocking greater production in an area of southern St Elizabeth that has highly fertile agricultural land but continues to face chronic water scarcity. Green said the Jamaican delegation will use the congress to engage international experts, technology providers and partners, while also advancing discussions relevant to irrigation projects already under development at home. “We will take the time to engage some of our providers in Jamaica who are based here, like SCP, around the Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme and to see how we can accelerate the pace of implementation in that regard,” he said. The ministry said the delegation will also examine technologies and approaches that can strengthen Jamaica's irrigation systems and improve the efficiency with which water is captured, distributed and used in agriculture. Discussions at the congress are focused on three major areas: the contribution of irrigation and drainage to climate adaptation and agro-ecological transition, innovative technologies and practices to improve agricultural water-use efficiency and the potential use of non-conventional water sources, including treated wastewater reuse and desalination. Green said the objective is to ensure that the discussions and partnerships pursued in Marseille translate into practical benefits for Jamaica's agricultural sector, including stronger irrigation infrastructure and greater water security for farmers.