North Clarendon communities overjoyed at aquaponics project

Margaret Lothian, president of the Aenon Town Community Development Committee (CDC), is one happy woman as last Thursday they collected the certificate of ownership to one of the five aquapoinics farm built at a cost of US$40,000 in total as part of the activities undertaken under the AP & to help to reduce Jamaica's vulnerability to climate change.

The handing over ceremony took place on-site location at Butler's Run, Top Alston with representatives from the communities - Alston, James Hill, Aenon Town, Ritchies and John's Hall receiving their certificates of ownership.

The communities which are in the Upper Rio Minho Watershed (URMW) will be better able to adapt to climate change and increase their earning capacity with the innovative Aquaponics systems.

Lothian said the project which was as a community effort with the Social Development Commission saw members bonding towards the goal of ensuring the unemployed had hope.

"We have been involved in other projects in the community as we operate by the mantra "building communities, developing lives".

"We have a scholarship project running two years now. In year one we assisted six children from infant to high school with back-to-school items. In 2019 we assisted 14 children of similar age groups," shared Lothian, highlighting the other initiatives her community has been involved in.

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According to Lothian, after an assessment was done in her community, it was realised that there was little employment opportunities resulting in the young people migrating to other places to seek jobs.

"We, therefore, thought the aquaponics system would address all these plus other community concerns. Our major and most serious challenge is how to minimise theft. We hope to seek funding for fencing to mitigate against this," she said.

Aquaponics is an innovative farming technique that combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (soilless crop production) into a closed system that is resilient to destructive climate change events.

"This [aquaponics] system is the first of its kind in our community," said a James Hill farmer, who has been engaged in the project since its inception last year. "We are thankful for this gift and will take good care of it."