Running head: RAINWATER HARVESTING IN ST.

ELIZABETH Reid 1

The Economic Value of Government Sponsored Rainwater Harvesting for

Agricultural Use in the Hilly Farming Areas of Southern St. Elizabeth

Background
In October of 2006 I went to a very dry region of China, Ganzu Province, to study

rainwater harvesting for domestic and agricultural use. It was breath taking to see what

the Chinese are accomplishing in agricultural output in such a very hot and arid area.

Through Government sponsorship farming there is 95% efficient, agricultural produce

are very cheap and the farmers there are competing globally.

When I reflect on our farmers in the bread basket parish of St. Elizabeth I am

greatly disturbed. Today they still suffer an excessive loss in revenue due to drought, the

high cost to buy and truck water and the high cost of their produce so as to cover

expenses. Our farmers need to do everything possible to cut expenses, greatly increase

yield and to compete globally. Rainwater harvesting is a great way to accomplish this.

The different types of rainwater harvesting systems are many, cheap and quite easily

installed. I wish that the Jamiacan Government would open its doors to rainwater

harvesting.

Purpose of the study

To identify the extent to which farmers would be interested in using a

rainwater harvesting system, to ascertain the costs as oppose to the benefits of

Running head: RAINWATER HARVESTING IN ST. ELIZABETH Reid 1

implementing such systems on a large scale and to determine the extent to which farmers

would maintain such a localized system over an extended period.

The Research Problem Statement

This research sets out to investigate both the feasibility of and the national

benefits that are to be attained from constructing an efficient rainwater harvesting system

on individual farms in the hilly terrains of Southern St. Elizabeth, part of the bread basket

area.

Expected Benefits

1. Breaks the cycle of impoverished farmers in Southern St. Elizabeth

2. Produce supplied at reduced cost thus leading to consumer surplus

3. Negate need for foreign importation and saves import expenditure

4. Farmers compete globally

Sub –topics

(1) To what extent is there a need for controlled irrigation water in southern

St. Elizabeth?

(2) What other viable irrigation systems can be implemented in this area?

(3) What is the most efficient type of rainwater harvesting system that can be

implemented in this area?

(4) What is the cost-benefit of installing an efficient rainwater harvesting system on

individual farmlands?

(5) What ratio of Government to owner sponsorship would stir system owners to

maximize production and add economic value to the project annually?