Farm Up Jamaica
Farm Up Jamaica Ltd. strongly believes that it is every person's human right to have access to nature’s original gifts- organic, non GMO healthy foods and a decent way to make a living. Although economic conditions are unfavorable across the globe right now, Jamaica is a prime example of how an entire nation's way of life is compromised once these particular inadequacies run rampant, over several years. What tourists don't know is that food prices are based on the US dollar - a soda costs $1 US dollar and commuter transportation can run upwards of $20 US dollars per week. After doing the math, how can the thousands of people earning the weekly minimum wage equivalent to $50 US dollars, make it? Farm Up Jamaica Ltd. has identified a strategic way to begin tackling both the economic and agricultural issues that have been standing in the way of Jamaica's prosperity, for decades. By supplying farmers with everything from seeds to workforce, we will begin to introduce local markets to inexpensive organic foods and decrease the need to import unhealthy, genetically modified crops. Ultimately, we will create tons of good jobs while closing the gap on importation of foreign foods. Join us on this life-changing journey as we make major strides towards an economy's recovery.
OUR STORY
Farm Up Jamaica Ltd. is an international organization formed in the U.S. with offices in New York State and Jamaica. The organization is comprised of both Jamaican and multinational professionals from all over the world who have a heart-felt interest in global sustainability. Our mission is to assist distressed farmers in the sustainable cultivation of vacant, under-farmed lands and to decrease the importation of foreign foods. Farm Up Jamaica Ltd. has already garnered the support of the Jamaica Ministry of Agriculture in order to strategically identify crops that are needed to help close the gap on importation, enabling us to have a direct impact on the market. The Ministry of Agriculture has agreed to work closely with us in order to ensure success. They have also already helped us locate farmers and farmlands in order to cultivate the crops that are in highest demand. Through professional evaluation of land conditions and feasibility we have determined where to designate our first crops. This assessment takes into consideration irrigation, soil quality, seeding, access, roadways, staffing, maintenance, reaping, storage, logistics and more. Our organization is going the extra mile by taking an organic approach to farming. We will demonstrate that an organic farm is a more wholesome, more cost effective farm. Going forward, the crops we will focus on are onions, ginger, rice, irish potatoes, and pineapples. The demand for these crops currently exceeds local production and greatly cripples the economic potential of the entire country. We have divided our crop-planting initiative into segments- in order to focus on successfully reaching tangible goals that have a direct, economic impact!
OUR PROJECT
Our initiative will focus solely on non-GMO, organic onion production. We have devised a concise model for this project, guaranteeing success upon completion. With your support, we will be planting 5 acres of non-GMO, organic onions on a 100-acre farm in Mandeville, Jamaica. Together, we will provide the resources needed...from start to finish. Upon completing this project we will be closing the gap on importation of onions into Jamaica by 1% for the upcoming year! The great thing about our project is that we have plenty of available, under-farmed lands, so any monies pledged past our $75,000 goal, will simply go towards planting more onions - and closing more of the gap!
HOW & WHY OUR PROJECT WILL WORK
The demand for onions in the local market is 10,000 tons per year. Jamaica only produces approximately 1,000 tons per year. This means that 9,000 tons of onions are currently being imported into Jamaica every year. The Jamaican population and its economy suffer for two main reasons due to this shortfall: onions are sold locally at higher prices and the quality of the onions is compromised, as genetically modified, non-organic production is the latest trend. All participating farmers have expressed having patriotic feelings about this project, which will keep them inspired and focused. They are all very excited because they will have access to fresh, organic onions to eat and sell; these farmers realize they are making a huge contribution to their country. The professional evaluation of the land condition and feasibility has been conducted and the farm has been approved! The scheduled start date for land preparation is December 10, 2013. We will need to prepare the land with access roads, proper irrigation and all necessary facilities. A work force has been assembled consisting of core, Farm Up Jamaica Operations Team Members, coupled with paid and volunteer local citizens, inner city youths and students majoring in Agricultural studies. Our farmers have each already received a face-to-face tutorial about the program from our team of Field Directors. We have thoroughly discussed onion production and what it means to the country. Off to work we go!! Our assembled work force will hit the ground running with the proper machinery and tools to get the land sowed.
The farmers and local Farm Up Jamaica workforce will be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the farmlands until the time of harvest. Farm Up Jamaica Ltd. will keep a close eye on the farm and will monitor its progress through onsite Farm Up Jamaica surveillance and field inspectors- who will create monthly progress reports. To avoid potential praedial larceny, motion-detecting-infrared perimeter protection and cameras will be set up to safe guard our project and all surveillance and fencing will be monitored in a central station. Once the time has come to harvest, Farm Up Jamaica staff and locals will participate in the grand reaping process. Pick up and transportation assistance will be provided to move crops to the receiving purchasers, which include resort hotels and restaurants, local farmer's markets, supermarkets and grocery stores. Farm Up Jamaica Ltd. will oversee the payment process to ensure that all involved are paid accordingly. Lastly, we will also sponsor Farmer's Market events, giving our farmers the opportunity to sell a portion of their produce, directly!
By contributing to this project you are providing 100% assistance to a tangible, transparent initiative that a great deal of people are relying on!
Ready to make a powerful, positive impact? Our Goal of $75,000 will cover the following:
*Seeding
*Crates/Bags
*Labor
*Land Preparation (plowing, harrowing, farrowing)
*Trenching
*Lay Irrigation Lines
*Transplanting
*Supply
*Natural Insecticide & fungicide application
*Natural herbicide
*Weeding & Moulding
*Water application
*Perimeter Protection Equipment/Cameras/Surveillance
*Harvest
*Storage Facility Construction
*Transportation to market
SPREAD THE WORD:
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TO GET THE WORD OUT & ask those you know to SUPPORT our project!!
PLEASE CONTRIBUTE AND HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN! Check out our AWESOME PERKS! WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR OPENING YOUR HEART AND HELPING TO RESTORE A NATION’S ECONOMY!