KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Sixty onion farmers, of a total ninety-four participants, observed agricultural best
practices during a field day in Colbeck, St. Catherine on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The farmers, most of
whom are a part of the Spanish Grain Onion Value Chain Project, were given on-site demonstrations of
proper land preparation (ploughing, harrowing, bed shaping) and weed management, among other key
field lessons.

The farmers in the Spanish Grain supply chain, from Colbeck, St. Catherine and Springfield, St. Thomas,
recently received grant funding to improve their onion production from the Jamaica Business Fund (JBF), a
project managed by the Development Bank of Jamaica. Others from Ebony Park and Spring Plain Agro Parks
also joined them for the field day. In addition to farmers, there were representatives from the Rural
Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through
Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Fisheries (MICAF), input
suppliers and the JBF.

Yvonne Brown, finance and administration manager of the JBF, which manages SME supply chain grant
funds under the Foundations for Competitiveness and Growth Project (FCGP), advised the audience that an
integral part to the success of the project is the technical training in agricultural best practices that are
provided by the JBF grant. In addition, other critical strategic actions are supported by this project.
Terrence Samuels, agricultural extension facilitator of PROPEL, conducted the practical demonstrations,
along with Anthony Trout, farm manager for the Ebony Park Agro Park.

Randy Finnikin, an onion farmer from Colbeck, spoke highly of the field day. “I am confident that, as a
result of this field day here today, our productivity is going to increase because the knowledge shared here
was what the doctor ordered.”

Another one of Colbeck’s onion farmers, Abdon Campbell, shared similar sentiments. “I thought I knew
before, but, today, I recognised that there were a lot more things to learn,” he said. “It just means that my
practice and technique which will be much more different.”

By providing grants to SMEs in supply chains, the JBF project is intended to increase overall sales,
employment and productivity, and also import substitution. According to the Economic and Social Survey
of Jamaica (2016), the Government is seeking to satisfy 40% of local demand for onions. The JBF Spanish
Grain-led supply chain partners with 33 small-farming businesses and will cultivate 70 acres of onion in
total.

Under the FCGP, the JBF is aimed at raising the level of knowledge, skills, production capabilities and
income levels of SMEs in supply chain groups. Additional information is available at
http://www.jamaicabusinessfund.com/.