This project aims to assist 20 farmers in the community of Southfield build resilience and reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change induced drought. This community is located in the drier Southern region of St. Elizabeth where rainfall is variable and low. Rainfall data provided by the Jamaica Meteorological Service for the period 1995 to 2015 indicates that the average monthly rainfall ranged from 48 mm (January) to 208 mm (October) and annual from 73.04 mm (2014) to 196.57 mm (2005). As is typical of the Caribbean region the rainfall is also very variable being influenced by global phenomenon such as El Nino. There are two rainy seasons: the primary season of August to November and the lower rainfall period of May to June. The main dry period is December to March. Planting of crops mirror the rainfall pattern and farmers utilise a combination of grass mulching and hand/drip irrigation to cope with low rainfall levels. Crops planted include melon, tomatoes, cantaloupe, escallion, sweet pepper, thyme and sweet potato. RADA indicates that there are around 200 farmers in Southfield and adjacent communities.

The climate risk facing the community is drought. Crops die in the field or farmers stop farming due to reduced and highly variable rainfall combined with the absence of irrigation water, inadequate quantities of stored rainwater and high cost of water. The farmers state that they have been affected by three consecutive droughts (2013 to 2015) and that the usual rainfall periods are becoming drier. This has resulted in loss of income and livelihoods for farmers who now have much higher production costs and decreased yields. In response to this need this project will construct a 250,000 gallon lined pond for storage of harvested rainwater. This water will be pumped to a distribution station by a solar pump. Organic farming builds soil organic content, increases aggregate stability and moisture retention capacity, stimulates microbial activity and the release of vital micronutrients to plants. A minimum of two demonstration plots will be established and the greenhouse owned by the SFG will be used to demonstrate organic greenhouse farming. Five workshops on climate change (causes, impacts, mitigation and adaption, etc.) will be conducted in collaboration with the Climate Change Division and the Meteorological Service of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC)