Evidence from the Field: Lessons from Jamaica's Organic Farms

EVIDENCE FROM THE FIELD

LESSONS FROM JAMAICA’S ORGANIC FARMS

Dorienne Rowan-Campbell

THE FAO CITES ORGANIC PRODUCTION AS BEING

EFFECTIVE • Prevention

• Mitigation

• and Assisting with adaptation to Climate Change

WHAT HAS BEEN JAMAICA’S EXPERIENCE?

CONTRIBUTING FARMSFARM PARISH PRACTICES

DURGA ST ANN Water conservation, natural bldgs, permaculture, solar toilets, ponds

JEFFERY TOWN FARMERS GROUP

ST MARY Check dams, terracing, greenhouse, communal water sourcing

FARMS Continued

ROWAN’S ROYALE

PORTLAND Permaculture, terracing, water harvesting, Shade promotion

SOURCE FARM

ST THOMAS Permaculture, natural bldgs, water harvesting

WOODFORD MARKET GARDEN

ST ANDREW

Protected ag, water harvesting, terracing

JEFFERY TOWN FARMERS ASSOCIATION

BACKGROUND

• 4 farmers cultivating 12 acres ( two have lost their leases and are re-organizing)

• Mostly hillside farmers 1 greenhouse• Soil type bonny gate clay• Products

strawberries in the greenhousefruit trees, bananas, pineapples breadfruit dasheenmixed fruit various vegetables, carrots

.

Issues

• Rain-fed

• Get severe flooding in community and on farms

Actions Taken - Flooding

• Built check dams with head trench to force water to soak through rather than rush over fields.

• Terracing

Water Access

• 1 spring. Use catchments at spring head and solar pumps to lift water. Priority community use but some use for farming

• 1 pond. Negotiated with pond owner for use of pond to entrap water to irrigate green house.

• Water harvesting on farms

ADAPTATIONS

• Changing patterns of production– Focus on strawberries in greenhouse– More emphasis on fruit trees– Seasonal emphasis on root crops rather than

green vegetables

Observations

• More continuously sustainable and profitable harvests

• Report a marked difference with neighboring farmers who have are still losing crops to flooding and drought

ROWAN’S ROYALE FARM

CERTIFIED ORGANIC SINCE 2002

Background Rowan’s Royale

• 6 acre farm 4000 feet Blue Mountains• Geologically, part of the band identified as

Newcastle volcanic, full of fissures and fault lines and the Wag Water enrichment formation The soil itself varies but much of it is shale; non calcareous and conglomerate shales.

• pH acidic.

Background cont

Some ProductsCoffeeAsparagusBananas, plantainsMulberries, lemonsMixed greens, peas,

beansTurmeric, ginger, coco,

sweet potato

Issues• Entirely rain-fed• Are in increasing rain

shadow in summer• Increased wind• Shortening period of

mist/fog –less moisture

• Increased heat and sun

Actions

• Employing Permaculture techniques• Building berms and swales to trap moisture• Water harvesting• Planting trees for shade• Planting under shade• Canopy use• Changing production patterns• Soil improvements ( top soil inc. organic

inspectors reports)

MOISTURE IS CRITICAL FOR QUALITY COFFEE

• Lining out the berms and swales for the capture of more moisture for the coffee

Our own brand of water harvesting

• Trap water from farm buildings

• many 60 gal drums spread out so plants can be easily watered.

• .permaculture mulching on terraces

• Mosquito prevention

Some adaptations

• 2013-14 planted 150 shade trees

• Moving back to shade coffee (trees lost after hurricanes)

• Planting vegetables under shade

• Experimenting with drought resistance crops

• Assists with water and moisture retention

• Use canopy for chocho and black pepper and beans

RR and CIB data

• Float consistently av. <3% (since 2002)

• 2015 after drought Higher than normal float percentage, start of the crop was about 35 to 40 percent. Average losses in yield 15 to 20 percent

Observationscorroborated by UTECH study on Coffee and

Climate Change - Expresso• Neighbouring farmers

report• Smaller beans• Lesser yield overall• RR heavier yield,

large beans beans• Loss of seedlings. RR

lost 6

FAO Environment and Natural Resources Series # 4 2008

Organically Managed soils have a higher potential to counter soil degradation as they are more resilient to water stress and

nutrient loss than conventionally managed soils

CORROBORATION FROM FARMS

FAO finding is reflected in other organic systems but is so far under-reported and researched in Jamaica.

As soil management is at the core of organic processes, maintaining soil health ensures a protection against crop loss in times of flooding and drought.

Organic soils use less water..

Organic is an holistic system thus all aspects relate to water management:

• Soil management e.g.Composting adds nutrient and organic matter ( imp. To keep water in and soil structure intact)

• Provision of shade trees• Terracing• Permaculture• Mulching• Cover crops