Clifton residents embrace development plans

The community of Clifton in St Catherine has established a farm on more than seven acres of land donated by the Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings Limited (SCJH). Residents of the area, mainly females, are cultivating okra, corn, tomato, lettuce and other crops.

They will use earnings from the venture to help young single mothers, train young males, and beautify the community.

“We are really blessed with the opportunity that SCJ has given us. It is profitable, and we want to mobilise our youngsters in farming. We are very grateful,” said Natalee Walker, president of the Clifton Citizens Association. She added that the farm is motivating community members to chart their development, and more persons need to join the process.

Walker said that most of the crops are in high demand, and that the women take pride in making daily treks to the farm, as they are keen on pushing human development in the area.

Treasurer of the Clifton Citizens’ Association, Diedre Bogle, said that members of the group have fun in planting the crops, and are rallying around the president to ensure that their vision for the area is realised.

BROUGHT UNITY

“I am so overjoyed. I have never done anything like this before, and I look forward to it. Every time Natalee calls, we are there with her. We do everything,” Bogle said, adding that the project has also brought unity among community members.

Clifton is being upgraded under the SCJH Community Regularisation Programme with infrastructural works. The old estate houses for sugar workers will be upgraded and several amenities will be constructed in the community and residents given titles for the lands.

A community centre was recently handed over to the residents, the agency sponsored several sporting events and is coordinating training for young people. Floyd Green, minister of state in the Ministry of

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, has encouraged the residents to continue putting food on the nation’s table. “We want you to put the seven acres into production,” he said.

Green said establishment of the agricultural venture for Clifton is part of the Government’s effort to empower the community.

“We are equipping the community with the necessary facilities, and structures that can guide its transformation,” he said.

Joseph Shoucair, managing director of the SCJH, said that Clifton is a farming community, and with water and land, the residents will be able to earn income for themselves and to develop the area.

“We thought that starting them off with 7.5 acres of land, preparing it for them with the inputs, give them a start, they can expand. It is a grant to assist the community, to occupy its young people, give them skills training in farming, and to earn money for the running of the community organisation,” Shoucair said.