Small farmer production/marketing project

The project will increase fruit and vegetable production in these areas and will provide conduits for both domestic and export marketing. The Agribusiness Council will participate as subgrantee. The PMO"s will be self-governing and composed primarily, but not exclusively, of small farmers of 5 to 15 acres. The Bushy Park PMO, already being formed under Project 5320060, comprises at present 7 or 8 medium-sized farmers who will bear most of that PMO"s overhead cost and risk, and will share facilities and know-how with small farmers who become members. Rhymesbury"s mostly small producers need greater preparation to form a PMO. PMO"s initially will be informal groups, but may adopt a more formal legal structure as more farmers participate. PMO"s will organize the flow of produce from the farm to the packing house and grading station and will exploit domestic and U.S. marketing avenues forged by larger producers. The PMO"s will also help farmers obtain agricultural inputs (e.g., seed, fertilizer, credit, production assistance). Farmers - between 100 and 200 will eventually join the PMO"s - will be trained both in working with a PMO (e.g., production scheduling, quality standards, assembly of produce, and financial settlements) and in horticultural techniques (including soil management, cultural practices, varietal evaluation, irrigation, pest control, harvesting, and farm management). A growers" guide will be produced. PMO leadership and grading station managers will receive TA in management and administration, especially in commercial aspects (e.g., selecting marketing slots, identifying importers and buyers, monitoring distributers" performance, arranging produce shipment through the U.S. Business Council on Jamaica and other produce exporting projects, and forging U.S. business contacts). Two persons from each site will attend a management training seminar at Rutgers University. The project complements Project 5320060 (Agricultural Marketing), which is helping the PMO"s acquire packing houses and related facilities. The project is expected to increase annual farmgate income by US$1.5-2.5 million, plus value added in packing.