The Jamaica Social Investment Fund, through funding from the second cycle of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI – II) invested a total of J$37,135,912.42 to supply and install a 79.2 kW grid-tied photovoltaic system at the National Irrigation Commission’s Plumwood Pumping Station in Southern Manchester.

The project will benefit approximately 1,943 farmers who farm at the New Forest/Duff House Agro-Parks in South Manchester and South St. Elizabeth. These farmers benefit from water extracted by the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) for agriculture, provided by truckers who supply water to the farmers.

This sub-project aims to reduce the JPS energy cost of the National Irrigation Commission and allow the agency to continue subsidizing the cost of irrigation water for farmers. In addition to providing the NIC with an alternative energy source, the supplying, installation, and commissioning of this solar photovoltaic system in New Forrest will aid the NIC’s transition to clean and renewable energy for its operations.

World Bank President, Ajay Banga, has high praises for Jamaica's current economic health, noting that “your country has managed your macro situation very well”.

“It is not the same for many developing countries, which took on a great deal of debt when interest rates were low, both international and domestic debt,” he noted.

Greenhouse farmers here are hopeful that the expansion of a cluster near here will be realized soon following Wednesday's historic visit by World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.

The Integrated Community Development Project II (ICDP-II), which is funded by the Government of Jamaica, supported 6 projects within 4 communities on National Labour Day 2023. The JSIF partnered with the Ministry of Education & Youth, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the local police, Community Development Committees and Curfew Monitors from the respective communities, to rehabilitate the Math Resource Room at St. Alban’s Primary and Infant School; minor rehabilitation and clean-up at the Denham Town Police Station; rehabilitation of playfield and park at August Town Primary School, and improvement of the physical environment at 6 ZOSO checkpoints in St. James.  In keeping with this year’s theme ‘Plant a Tree for Life – Promoting Climate Change Mitigation, Food Security and Road Safety’, trees were also planted at each location, where the Day’s activities took place.