Marketing and Agriculture for Jamaican Improved competitiveness (MAJIC)
Project Dates: January 2010 – September 2013
Country: Jamaica
Partners: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), ACDI/VOCA, World Cocoa Foundation, Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (MOAF-RADA), Jamaican Cocoa Farmers Association (JCFA)
Implementer: ACDI/VOCA
Overview
Marketing and Agriculture for Jamaican Improved Competitiveness (MAJIC), will work to transform Jamaica’s agriculture sector into a market-driven, profitable and competitive industry along selected value chains, including cocoa, utilizing an integrated approach. MAJIC is a Farmer-to-Farmer Leader with Associates Program funded by USAID’s Office of Sustainable Development. Although Jamaica’s cocoa production is relatively low, less than 1,000 metric tons, it is known for its fine flavor cocoa. There are approximately 10,000 cocoa farmers in Jamaica with an average farm size of 4 hectares or less. The Government of Jamaica is in the process of reviewing the role of the Cocoa Industry Board and is working to deregulate its role in commercial functions. To adapt to this changing environment, farmers and farmer groups will benefit from training on post-harvest handling and marketing. The project will focus on major cocoa-producing areas including St. Mary’s, Clarendon and St. Thomas. The World Cocoa Foundation, the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture, and USAID signed a letter of intent for this project in September 2009.
Program Objectives:
- Farm-level Training: train approximately 6,000 smallholder farmers in cocoa production, pest and disease management, post-harvest handling, tree rehabilitation and marketing.
- Nursery, seedling production and tree rehabilitation: work to increase the production and distribution of cocoa seedlings and improved planting material through the establishment of nurseries; train farmers in side grafting for the rehabilitation of cocoa trees.
- Strengthening Farmer Associations:strengthen farmer organizations to function as profitable commercial enterprises; association development will assist the farmers by increasing capacity to operate democratically and become involved in marketing activities within the cocoa value chain while providing other services identified by members. Initial focus will be on the Jamaican Cocoa Farmers Association.
- Improving Post-Harvest Practices & Market Linkages: train farmers and farmer organizations on sound fermentation and drying techniques. Industry experts will provide feedback on quality and flavor profile, and offer suggestions for improvement.
Progress to Date:
- 52 farmers and extension officers trained on solar drying techniques: Partner-selected farmers and extension officers from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority were trained by a post-harvest processing specialist from Ecuador. These trainings spanned a two-week period and samples were sent to industry members for sensory analysis.