Focus Group at the St. Catherine High School in Jamaica ©FAO/Princess Lee

The Improving Rural Livelihoods through Resilient Agri-food Systems project, funded by the India UN Development Partnership Fund and implemented by FAO,  has been making significant strides in fostering sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing community engagement within Kitson Town in St. Catherine Jamaica. Since the launch, the project has conducted several impactful activities, including a focus group with agriculture students at St. Catherine High School and a Mindset of a Successful Beneficiary training with residents in the Dover and Top Mountain districts.

The focus group at St. Catherine High School targeted Grade 10 and 11 Agricultural Science students, aiming to understand their current agricultural practices and identify areas for improvement. The major findings from the focus group revealed that students heavily relied on traditional manual practices, such as hand watering and manual land preparation with forks and spades. Lack of technology in agriculture and the need for crop care during non-agriculture class hours were identified as challenges, leading to suboptimal yields. Furthermore, the livestock department required renovations to meet food safety standards.

In response to these findings, the IRL project plans to support the school's agriculture program. The initiative aims to encourage more youth involvement through the introduction of precision agriculture methods, food safety training, and the establishment of a new greenhouse. These measures will empower students to apply climate-smart agriculture practices, fostering a new generation of farmers equipped with modern techniques.
By involving youth and equipping them with knowledge and skills in technological and resilient agricultural systems, the project contributes to Jamaica's long-term agricultural success.

Shaping Successful Beneficiaries

The Mindset of a Successful Beneficiary training conducted in Dover and Top Mountain addressed the crucial role of beneficiary mindset in project success and sustainability. The sessions covered topics such as individual needs assessment, understanding beneficiary responsibilities, and sustaining livelihoods and resources post-project.

The community response to the training sessions was positive, with participants expressing interest and understanding that the success of the project is a shared responsibility. The workshops left them equipped with the knowledge to assess their needs and determine how the project could fulfill those needs.
Following these sessions, the next steps for the two districts involve participants identifying their needs and submitting short video applications describing their desired aspects of the project. These "pitch" videos will be used to select beneficiaries, who will then be channeled into one of three areas for support: agri-crop, agri-livestock, or skills training.