REPORT ON THE HILLSIDE AGRICULTURE PROJECT (HAP)

 MARCH 31, 1993




 On completion of the Integrated Rural Development Project

(IRDP), the United States Agency for International Development

(USAID) in consultation with the Government of Jamaica (GOJ)

decided to formulate another, that could still benefit small

hillside farmers but avoid many of the past mistakes. It

commissioned a study which led to the concept of the Hillside

Agriculture Project (HAP). The Project document was prepared more

as a guideline than a blueprint, and gave a Project Coordinating

Committee (PCC) and the Management Unit flexibility to plan and

execute Sub-projects that would have greater agricultural

production emphasis and less attention to infrastructure

development particularly mechanical soil conservation methods.

 The Project Grant Agreement was signed on February 27, 1987

between USAID and GOJ to cost an estimated US$13,346.00 (USAID

$10.m, GOJ $3,346.0 m) and to last for seven years. Coming right

after the June 1986 flood rains and devastations caused in

Clarendon and St. Catherine, it was decided to launch HAP in the

Rio Minho and Rio Cobre watershed as pilot areas.

 A Project Coordinating Committee was appointed, and a Project

Manager employed in August 1987. An office was established, and

a paper titled "A Guide for Sub-project Application Submission"

(Appendix 1) prepared in September 1987 and circulated. The early

objectives were: