Farmers in Jamaica will soon gain improved access to financing through a recently launched Matching Grant Scheme (MGS) by the Government of Jamaica in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB / the Bank). The new initiative is designed to help farmers expand their agri‑business ventures through investment.
The MGS forms part of the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project (SPADP), which is financed by a £16.7 million grant from the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Programme (UKCIF) administered by CDB.
Mr. Stephen Lawrence, Advisor, Projects Department, CDB, emphasised the transformative potential of the initiative, saying “At its core, this Matching Grant Scheme seeks to empower farmers and farmer groups to invest in their own growth. By sharing the cost of critical production and post-harvest investments, the scheme seeks to lower financial barriers that too often prevent small and medium-sized farmers from scaling their agri-businesses.”
