The World Bank REDI II team and local representatives JSIF made a site visit to the Jamaica Business Fund and Spanish Grain Store’s onion value chain project in Colbeck , St. Catherine on Friday June 15, 2018. Twenty-five (25) beneficiary farmers as part of the Colbeck Water Users Association (CWUA) produce onions. The visit was organized to gather information and insights of the successes of the JBF project and collectively the pilot supply chain model being tested with a view to integrating lessons learnt into the REDI II supply chain project design.
The team met with Mr. Brian Wong, CEO for Spanish Grain Store Ltd, Mrs. Natalie Wheatle, Coordinator of the Onion Value Chain project and at least four farmers from the CWUA, who are beneficiaries under the project. Representatives from the Jamaica Business Fund, including the Fund Manager, Ronald Dubrisingh facilitated the visit. In addition, a short tour of the farms was be conducted.

The CWUA is a well-organized and active association with 90 registered farmers of whom 40 are active. Each JBF beneficiary in Colbeck is cultivating an average of 1.5 acres for an expected total output of 800,000 kgs of onion from the 50 acres cultivated. This production is valued at JMD 105.6 million at farm gate prices. The volume reflects a projected increase in productivity of 14.2% but does not include the reduction in post-harvest losses which are expected to decrease from 10% to 5%.