IICA JAMAICA'S STRATEGIC AREAs OF COOPERATION
	Promoting the Development of Rural Communities Based on the Territorial Approach The IICA office supports the country in the modernization of rural communities via the application of territorial strategies, for the purpose of promoting rural prosperity, creating employment opportunities and reducing the development gap between rural and urban populations.
ACTIVITIES Community Development Agro Tourism	IICA helped the Charles Town Bee Farmers Association to source a J$1.68 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development REACT Programme. The money helped the Bee farmers to substantially increase their honey production capacity. (ongoing) Some hives at the Charles Town Bee Keepers Association office. The European Union, (EU) under its Rural Diversification Programme approved J$35.8 million in funding to IICA to develop an agro-tourism project in the Buff Bay Valley of Portland. The project which ends in December 2009 will seek to establish tourist attractions in the area and strengthen the marketing relationship between the farmers and local hotels.(2008-2009)   IICA signs Project Document for EU funded Project The Institute hosted two Agro-tourism workshops between stakeholders in the agriculture and tourism sectors under the IICA/OAS Agro tourism initiative. This meeting facilitated closer collaboration has developed between the Culinary Federation of Jamaica and local farmers. The Federation has started to host frequent community meetings with farmers to inform them of the weekly produce needs of specific chefs. The farmers in turn use this intelligence to guide production and avoid glut of any one crop. The office continues to provide institutional support to the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers (JNRWP). (since 1999) IICA's Summary Report on Agro-tourism Workshop