Spanish Grain Stores (SGS), through the assistance of the Jamaica Business Fund, hosted an Onion Transplanter field demonstration day on February 19, 2019 at the Amity Hall Agro-Park in Old Harbour, St. Catherine. Among those present were representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF), Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA), Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), Farmers from Colbeck, and Amity Hall Agro Parks, Checchi & Magli (C&M) agricultural machinery company, Spanish Grain Store and the Jamaica Business Fund.

As the largest distributor of onions within Jamaica, SGS recognized the need to support the GOJ’s thrust to increase local production and supply of onions.  SGS was able to leverage its market position to support two groups of local farmers in expanding onion production, using the most modern techniques such as by using a transplanter. With the use of a transplanter, famers are able to reduce planting costs while reducing sowing time by up to six (6) weeks. 

It is hoped that for future crops, SGS and other buyers will be able to reduce the requested imports needed to satisfy the local consumer demand for onions, which far exceed the local supply by farmers. In this way and going forward, local farmers who sell to large distributors such as SGS can close the supply gap. Import substitution occurs where imports can be offset by local supply. This gives onion producers within the supply chain an opportunity to increase their production and sales.

The Transplanter Demonstration Day was a closing activity under the Development Bank of Jamaica led MSME component 3 of the Foundations for Competitiveness and Growth Project (FCGP) focusing on strengthening SMEs nationally. It is funded through a loan facility by the World Bank Group, through the government of Jamaica. The entire project focuses on increasing Jamaica’s growth and competitiveness in a bid to meet the PIOJ’s Vision 2030 development targets. The Jamaica Business Fund is implemented by Fund Managers, Particip GmbH.