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2226J Mango Valley Papaya Project Income-Generating Activities Baseline ReportProject SnapshotData CollectionProject Participants' CharacteristicsGoal: Improve the production and income of 18papaya farmersActivitiesIn-Country Partner18 papaya farmersTimeline2023-2026JamaicaMango Valley, St. MaryAgriculture accounts for the main income for 15 households (83%). Other households(3) report formal or informal businesses as their main source of employment. Additional in-country funding allowed us to add three farmers to the original project scope.11Installation of a dripirrigation system ineach fieldFarming suppliesand equipmentConstruction of rainwater harvestingshed and tankBusiness trainingTechnicalassistance andtrainingBy increasing papaya yield and incomeBy providing inputs, technical assistanceand trainingThe baseline evaluation visit (April 21-May 8) considered the total harvest periodfrom 2020-2023, before the use of project inputs.18 respondents1 surveyorOf the surveyed participants, five are currently living under the $3.65 per person/per dayinternational poverty line indicator, and 10 under the $6.85 per person/per day benchmark.Income among the group may also be highly seasonal and dependent on agriculturalseasons. The World Bank established poverty income lines of $3.65 and $6.85 (https://www.worldbank.org/en/home).122

Findings2Among the surveyed farmers, 13 have prior experience planting papayas for sale. Theremaining five with no prior experience had either planted other crops (3), engaged in othernon-farm activities (1) or had some experience but required a resting period for their land (1).Those with recent planting experience own an average of 877 productive trees, utilizing 1.2acres for production. 11 of the 13 farmersproducing for saleexperienced a harvest. Harvested produceaveraged 18,555 pounds,with most sold.The average price per poundamong those who sold was$0.44.33A typical papaya harvest lasts three years. The survey focused on harvests beginning as early as 2020 through 2023. Farmers in this samplestarted harvesting at various times.We surveyed farmers about their expenses. Ofthe total papaya-related costs, they spent 79%of their funds on pesticides and fertilizers. While most farmers were able to harvest theirpapayas, they produced approximately 4,000pounds less than anticipated. They experiencedcomplications from pests and diseases thatdestroyed early production and, in some cases,resulted in total tree loss.Farmers sold the papayas they harvesteddirectly to consumers and relied heavily onword-of-mouth for marketing.We also surveyed farmers about technical and business best practices. They have a basicunderstanding of most technical areas; however, they lack skills in record-keeping andsimilar business practices. Recommendations Consider strategies aimed at reducing and mitigating pests and diseases among plots. 1. Consider strengthening the business training component to ensure farmers are bettermotivated to keep track of operational expenses and revenues. 2. Conduct technical and business training and other project activities, as per projecttimeline.1. Perform data collection as per timeline in Year 3.2. Next StepsOver the three-year harvestperiod, farmers earned anaverage total revenue of$7,186.63.4More than half of the papaya farmers earned revenue from 2022 to 2023. 4