Genius Ose Edokpa

University of West Indies

Partnerships in the global economy - Agriculture

Prof. Dr. Patricia Northover, University of West Indies

Playing in the park: Exploring the dynamic performance of Jamaican Agroparks

The Jamaican agricultural sector is subject to multiple pressures driven by endogenous as well as exogenous forces, ranging from low productivity to climate change and Covid-19 shocks. The agropark initiative may, however, offer a sustainable solution strategy in response to the complex set of global and local, socio-economic, and environmental pressures facing the local agricultural sector. While there is no precise definition of what an agropark is, an agropark may be defined as a cluster of crop and/or livestock production and other related economic activities in a specific location, utilizing high levels of knowledge and technology as a major input. Since the launch of this initiative in 2012, the Jamaican agropark model has arguably had limited success with its own developmental goals. It has thus become necessary to explore the factors which hinder or contribute to the transformative potential of the agropark - an initiative that requires a combination of multifaceted innovations and cooperation amongst diverse stakeholders.

The methodology of this study is rooted in institutional economics, systems innovation theory, industrial ecology, and resource use efficiency theory. Using an embedded case study design methodology, non-probability sampling will be used for in-depth analysis of two (2) selected case studies. The New Institutional Economics (NIE) will be employed to determine how institutional factors influence the success or failure of agroparks and the resource use efficiency theory will be used to analyze the resources available to the agroparks. In addition, a fault tree analysis (FTA) will be used to uncover and assess the probable risks and causes of their successes or failures.

• 2017: Master of Science, The University of West Indies Jamaica, majoring in Agricultural Entrepreneurship.
• 2012: Bachelor of Agriculture, University of Benin, Nigeria, majoring in Agricultural Economics and Extension Services

• 2016 – Present: Assistant Cordinator, International English Language Testing System (Ielts), The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus
• 2015 – 2016: Projects Officer, Environmental Health Foundation
• 2012 – 2013: Helpline Staff, Agricultural Transformation Agenda in the Ges Program, Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria.