Youth In Agriculture: Opportunities, Food Security, and Farming Innovation

Issue 21 | 30 Mar, 2019

Building Resilience

OUR SAINT LUCIA www.govt.lc

Bi-monthly Progress Report from the Government of Saint Lucia

YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE Opportunities, Food Security

and Farming Innovation

CONTENTS

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Youth Agri Entrepreneurship Project

From Fruits to Smoothies

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Agro Processing takes shape

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Aquaponics makes its mark

Managing the Honey Industry

Roblot’s Model Agri Program

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Reaping the

benefits F

or some time now we have been hearing the cry for more Saint Lucians to get into agro processing with the help of Government. The calls get louder, particularly during the mango season, when many of the trees in backyards and along the roadsides bear fruit which fall to the ground and go to “waste”.

Over the last few years this has been changing. Many Saint Lucians, particularly young Saint Lucians, are now involved in the production of juices, smoothies, jams and other condiments made from local fruits. Government through various agencies, has been assisting with this development through training, grant funding, small loans and business development.

In this issue of Our Saint Lucia, we feature just a snap shot of some of these success stories and we also highlight some of the other areas of agriculture being embraced by young Saint Lucians. Some of these include Aquaponics and Hydroponics as well as school gardens that contribute to the school feeding program.

We also feature the great work being done by the Rural Women Network, who now produce a wide range of products including teas, jams and jellies, wines, high-end chocolates and so much more.

From small retailers now producing fudge, coconut oil, sugar cakes, cassava bread, plantain chips and so much more, to larger establishments making granola bars, chocolates, wines and juices - with the help of the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives the good news is that Saint Lucia is finally on its way to establishing a major agro processing industry as well as making agriculture itself more attractive to young people.

of the fruits!

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Message by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives Hon. Ezechiel Joseph

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ccording to the World Food Organization, young people and rural youth in particular, are the future of food security.

Recognizing the many challenges and hurdles that young people face, this Government and the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives has embraced a number of robust programs, with the assistance of friendly Governments and donor agencies, in an effort to assist our young men and women.

One such program is the Youth Agri-Entrepreneurship Project, which seeks to de-stigmatize agriculture and fosters the use of technology and best practices in agriculture as a way of attracting more young people into the sector. The impact of this is obvious; the creation of employment as well as the added value aspects of our agricultural products.

The Ministry of Agriculture is also reviewing the Agriculture Incentives Act, with a view to simplifying the process and will focus on the improvement of agro-processing, a sector we have already started realizing much growth in.

The establishment of the Fond Assau Agro processing facility, which has since been leased, is a wonderful success story. The facility employs several people from the Babonneau area and produces high-end chocolate for export and the local market as well as juices, sorbets and dried fruit. We are also supporting many private individuals with the establishment of their own facilities by providing capacity building to processors.

This Government is also pleased with the assistance given to our women farmers. To this end, we recently re-commissioned the agro-processing plant in Anse Gere, Micoud ran by the Rural Women in Agriculture Network and continue to work very closely with the other three of the four clusters of the Rural Women in Agriculture Network in Babonneau, Anse Kawet - Laborie and Canabelle in Canaries.

Hon. Ezechiel Joseph Minister for Agriculture The Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives also recognizes that for agriculture to truly become one of the great pillars of our economy, there must be greater linkages with schools through the Ministry of Education and Tourism through the SLHTA and SLTA as well as TEPA the Trade Export Agency.

To this end, we have embarked on a number of school programs, including the School’s Cassava Project and embrace the Schools Culinary Competition put on by the SLHTA. Our Ministry is also excited about the work being done by TEPA in securing markets for our young farmers, one of whom recently exported a quantity of breadfruits to the UK. With the Government’s commitment to agriculture and ensuring food security for our own people, Cabinet approved the proposal for the restructuring of the Saint Lucia Marketing Board and the Saint Lucia Fish Marketing Cooperation, which will make these entities more viable and sustainable and provide greater opportunities for farmers to sell their produce.

The tremendous support by the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives must be noted. With their assistance, we have commenced a three-year import substitution project. The objective is to reduce the importation of seven vegetables that we believe can be grown on a sustainable basis in Saint Lucia. These are tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbages, watermelons and pineapples.

Part of this project will also include the opening of the National Diagnostics Facility at Union which will be home to two units of the Division of Agriculture and the Metrological Unit of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards. The facility is expected to provide technical and analytical services to agriculture and other major economic and productive sectors.

Encouraging the utilization of locally grown food and forest products I firmly believe will improve the livelihoods of participants and increase the demand for their production. In keeping with our area of focus, I want to emphasize that despite the many challenges, the Government of Saint Lucia remains committed to Agriculture in Saint Lucia. With food safety and security, healthy quality produce and access to local, regional and international markets as our mantra - this could only redound to a healthier and wealthier nation, as we endeavour to make agriculture an even greater contributor to our GDP as we forge ahead with the inclusiveness of our young people and women.

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THE YOUTH AGRI ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME

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he Ministry of Agriculture's Youth Agri-Entrepreneurial Programme (YAEP) represents one of Government’s core strategies to promote growth and socio-economic development, fostering a commercialized and an agri-entrepreneurial approach to farming. Much effort is dedicated to “breaking the cycle of rural poverty through agriculture” as it is still a critical sector of the island’s economy. Agriculture is an important source employment and income to the economy of Saint Lucia. Latest figures reveal that some 12,300 persons, representing 11.4% of the country’s work force are engaged in the sector.

The occupation is particularly important amongst the rural poor, approximately twenty (20%) percent, who rely on agriculture for a living.

The sector, however, is constrained by the slow and low level of technology adoption, the lack of participation by youth and a need for an entrepreneurial approach to the business of farming.

The YAEP project seeks to address this void as well as the difficulty young persons face in obtaining credit, access to land, the capital intensive nature of farm ownership and operation, the stigma of agriculture being an unattractiveness option to the young as well as the risk and drudgery.

The Ministry’s Youth Agri-Entrepreneurial Programme seeks to meaningfully address the serious youth unemployment situation, reduce the rural to urban drift and its consequential increase in crime, address the aging farmer population problem and effectively improve the country’s food and nutrition security status by: * Empowering a cadre of 150 young agriculture entrepreneurs ages 18-35 years to create agricultural companies that will create jobs for themselves and others. * Facilitating the development and access credit tailored to the circumstances of youths to enable their involvement in agriculture. * Providing technical support through access to mechanization, extension & advisory services, involvement in co-operatives, a mentorship program and agri-businesses & enterprise training for the young entrepreneurs. * Demonstrating the application of best practices, the use of appropriate technology and institution of collaborative mechanisms for the management of sustainable agricultural enterprises. * Providing agricultural land for lease to those individuals who have no access to farming lands.

So far, the project has ensured the effective and efficient use of a number of parcels of land owned by Government, which were underutilized, at Roseau (Castries), La Caye (Dennery), River Doree (Choiseul), Beausejour (Vieux Fort) and have developed a medium to long term model for land use.

Phase 1 of the Project is currently being executed.

At present there are seventy young agri-entrepreneurs targeted in a wide range of agricultural enterprises namely aqua-culture, api-culture, vegetable production, greenhouse & open field, livestock production, broilers, swine, small ruminant and agro processing.

The Ministry is confident in the belief that if this potential is harnessed, the country can begin the process of agricultural transformation, positioning

itself to begin reducing the high agriculture food bill in a very tangible way and ensure a succession of new cadre of young agri-business men and women.

The purpose of the Youth Agriculture Entrepreneurship Project driven by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives is to develop a cadre of young agri-entrepreneurs with the intention of developing the application of best practices, the use of appropriate technology and institution of collaborative mechanisms for the management of sustainable agricultural enterprises.

The project is supported by the CARICOM Development Fund(CDF) main funders for the YAEP with assistance provided from PROPEL for training and the Taiwanese Technical Mission for ground cover and other material.

The specific objectives are; • To assist 150 (phase I & II) young people in St. Lucia between the ages of 18-35 years to procure technical, financial and other capital support to establish agricultural enterprises.

• Activate the production of a range of agricultural crops on approximately 150 acres of land which current lie fallow or are under-utilised over the next three (3) years.

• To strengthen the linkage between tourism and agriculture.

• To introduce a land use system in St Lucia that affords succession and long term agricultural development.

• Increase the number of commercialized farms by a further 150 to the national total.

• Improve infrastructure to facilitate production and marketing of the produce from the beneficiaries.

• Introduce a mentorship programme for youth agri-preneurs.

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ALWIN JULES- A YAEP Success Story!

Land being prepared

Alwin Jules: a happy and successful farmer who came through the YAEP program

Assisting with Green house projects

Upon graduating from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Alwin Jules says he tried his hands at “a little agriculture” and failed. “I don’t think it was something I took too seriously at the time, but after speaking to a field officer from the Ministry of Agriculture who introduced me to the Youth Agriculture Entrepreneurship Program, my interest was awakened,” he says.

Through the YAEP program, the Lacaye, Dennery native says he was introduced to training and best practices and was facilitated with 2 acres of land on which to grow vegetables and watermelons. “Not only did the program assist me in forging ahead with new ideas and taking a business approach to farming, I was able to develop socially as well,” Alwin says.

Seven years on as a farmer and Alwin now occupies 5 acres of farm lands and employs several persons. He also has access to markets at Massy Stores, CPJ as well as a number of medium and small buyers.

At the age of 31, Alwin Jules has been able to build his home and was recently able to purchase a new vehicle under the concessions for farmers.

“But for me that is not the real measure of my success. The real measure is the satisfaction I get doing something that I love while I connect with nature. It is just amazing to see how this happens from the earth to the table and being able to share my produce which promotes healthier lifestyles with others,” Alwin explains.

Project Officer Thaddeus Constantine offer some technical tips to students

Alwin Jules says he would encourage more young people to get involve in farming and take advantage of programs such as YAEP and others.

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PROMOTING CASSAVA AS A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE

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he Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives, Hon. Ezechiel Joseph in 2017 stated that the Cassava Project would continue and that farmers should look to the crop as a way of increasing revenue.

“It’s something that we started and we are going to continue it,” he said. “In fact, through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), I have been able to get funding for equipment, and I have gotten commitments from some bakeries in Saint Lucia to buy the cassava mash, that is part and parcel of producing the bread which is a healthier alternative to the white bread,” Joseph says.

The minister went on to say that the crop is very much in demand and that farmers would be encouraged to get into production since provisions were being made for cassava processing in Faux Assau and Anse Ger. The Ministry has also been exploring ways to introduce cassava to the school feeding program.

In 2018 the Ministry of Agriculture staged a major Cassava and seafood festival as part of activities for independence. During the event, a survey was conducted. The revelation was that many locals do not know how to prepare and treat cassava. As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture decided to develop a book highlighting the various ways of preparing, treating and using raw cassava and cassava products. The book is now available at the Ministry.

Then in March of this year, the Ministries of Agriculture and Education joined forces, with financial support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), to host an exposition among secondary schools, promoting the use of cassava and other root and tuber crops.

The activity was held on March 13 at the Clendon Mason Memorial Secondary School in Dennery.

The objectives of the exercise were to help students sharpen their culinary skills, encourage the use of local foods in meal preparation, and to encourage students in preparing home-cooked nutritious meals.

Students were encouraged to prepare two or more items of cassava-based dishes (sweet and savory dishes) along with other root and tuber crops using the root itself, the flour, farine and cassava mash.

Some cassava based dishes prepared by students

Learning the various ways of preparing cassava

Tree crop planting program launched The Ministry of Agriculture with financial support from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), through the Taiwanese Technical Mission, has implemented a tree planting program to help build resilience against the impact of storms and hurricanes.

The windbreak project will reduce the loss of crops during a storm or hurricane.

Speaking at the official launch in Praslin, the field officer attached to the Banana Productivity Improvement Project, Steven Moncherry, said the program has a two-fold effect as the mango trees will protect banana fields while allowing farmers to earn an extra income from the sale of the fruit.

“After Tropical Storm Kirk, we saw it necessary to have these barrier plants—the wind breaks, because we observed that on Mr. Lynch Fevriere’s Estate, the mango trees protected the farm and the damage he sustained was not as much as [the damages sustained on] other farms. So we went to the Taiwanese Technical Mission and they agreed to sponsor this tree crop planting project. We are using mangoes for two reasons.

Mangoes have a double effect: they can be used as windbreaks and the farmers can also use them as a cash crop.”

Approximately five thousand tree crops were purchased with the aid of the Taiwanese Technical Mission. Farmers from Region Four were provided with the knowledge of where and how the tree crops should be planted.

The windbreak project launch was well attended by farmers and students from Region Four. The intention of the Ministry of Agriculture is to implement the initiative across the island in the future.

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FRUITAGE JEUNESSE A SMOOTH AND TASTY IDEA!

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Windia with one of the employees of Frutage Jeunesse

locally owned smoothies company which utilizes locally grown fruits opened its doors in October 2018, at the Sulphur Springs Park in Soufriere. Since then, customers have not been able to get enough of the unique blends that the company “Fruitage Jeunesse” offers.

For Windia and Chrishna, co-partners of Fruitage Jeunesse, it was the realization of a four year long dream, which had as its genesis three main pillars. “First of all we wanted to do something about all of the fruits that often go to waste when they are in season like mangoes for example. And secondly we wanted to get involved in something that would create employment for young farmers. Added to that we wanted to become young entrepreneurs ourselves,” Windia tells Our Saint Lucia.

Their original idea was to convert some of the unwanted fruits into soaps and candles. However, after approaching the relevant funding agencies, they tweaked the idea to what it is today - a smoothies bar, using all local fruits.

The owners of Fruitage Jeunesse first submitted their proposal to the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) who provided grant funding as well as CARILED who assisted with equipment. They also received the support of the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation.

Since opening their doors in 2018, the owners say business has been good with both local and foreign visitors to the Sulphur Springs Park,

enjoying their healthy and delicious variety of products.

Windia explains some of the products; “we offer smoothies with names relating to the park to give us a unique edge, for example we have Gabriel’s Delight named after a survivor who fell into one of the hot springs, The Bachelor; named after the popular reality show which had one of its seasons filmed in Soufriere and the Sulphur Springs, Qualibou; the Amerindian name for the Sulphur Springs, Molten Rocks and Sulphur Blast.”

Fruitage Jeunesse also offers a number of detox smoothies all made from naturally grown fruits and products.

“We source our fruits from young farmers in the Soufriere and Choiseul area and we also offer them advice, pointing them in the right direction through the Ministry of Agriculture if some of them need assistance in any area,” Windia says. “We believe that there are lots of opportunities for employment within the agricultural sector for young people, and as young people ourselves, our aim is to encourage this and eradicate some of the negative stigmas attached to agriculture,” she went on to say. Fruitage Jeunesse will be opening another outlet at the soon to be opened Hummingbird Beach Park also in Soufriere. You may also catch them at the up-coming Youth Expose in Castries on April 5 as part of Youth Month activities.

Visitors to the Sulphur Springs savouring the wonderful smoothies.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet enjoying a Frutage Jeunesse smoothie at a GEF Education Fair

YOUNG EXPORTER GAINS ACCESS TO UK MARKET

Nila Mangal of Mangal Trading

There continues to be significant strides in the export of agricultural products from Saint Lucia. Recently Mangal Trading spearheaded by young entrepreneur Nila Mangal successfully shipped a consignment of bananas, plantains, and cucumbers to a buyer in the United Kingdom.

According to Mangal the journey towards this recent export of produce has been a difficult one, having faced many challenges in years past. However, with a recent spate of success along with the guidance from Export Saint Lucia she looks forward, with bated breath, to the possibilities of growth for her business and herself as a budding entrepreneur.

Mangal insisted that, “for a young person to survive in this business you must be patient”. She went on to say, “The buyer from all accounts was extremely satisfied with the initial shipment”.

The buyer has expressed interest in another shipment from Mangal Trading, requesting a wider variety of produce from the young exporter.

According to Export Saint Lucia’s CEO, Sunita Daniel, “This initial export speaks volumes in terms of diversifying agricultural exports from Saint Lucia”.

“Continued ventures like this one could transform first-time exporters to regular exporters, which could lead to financial stability, security and even job creation,” Daniel says.

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Two Major Highlights of Agro-proce

Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet and Minister for Agriculture Ezekiel Joseph signs agreement

Ready to serve up some hot chocolate

Tasty chocolates from Anse Gere Micoud

Locally made wines for any occasion

Anse Gere Facility Officially Open!

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n Sunday February 24, 2019 the Government of Saint Lucia officially handed over the Anse Gere Agro Processing Facility to the Saint Lucia Network of Rural Women Producers

(Micoud Cluster). For the past few years the women have been producing products such as jams, chocolate, juices and candies but have been limited due to not having a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certified location to manufacture.

The project was financed by the European Union (EU) under the

Agricultural Transformation Program.

The plant will also realize the growing and fermenting of Cocoa used in items produced.

An amount of € 10.35 million was made available by the EU for agriculture transformation in Saint Lucia to finance a number of projects.

Avalina Augustin, president of the Micoud cluster of the Network of

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essing Development in Saint Lucia Rural Women Producers says that the opening of the facility was most welcomed since it is a long time coming. “Not only will this facility create employment but it will reenergize farming in the community and empower the women,” Augustin says. “At the moment most of our women who are into agro processing on a small scale do it at home.

But with a facility like this they can come in and gain access to the standardization and best practices we will have here and this will open the door for them to larger markets,” she says.

The producers boast of using naturally grown fruits for their products.

The Micoud women received funding for agro-processing equipment and were provided with the space at the Anse Gere Depot of the Ministry of Agriculture to set-up the processing facility. “This facility will assist in ensuring greater quality control, proper packaging and labelling, storage and distribution of the end products,” Carmen Nurse, president of the Saint Lucia Network of Rural Women Producers says.

Quick Facts

• The Saint Lucia Network of Rural Women Producers (SLNRWP) consists of four clusters; the Babonneau and Micoud Clusters as well as the Anse Kawet Crafters and Canabelle Cooperative.

• The primary focus of members, are agro processing and farming with the production of such items as jams, jellies, vegetables chips, chocolate, fresh agricultural produce and craft items.

• The women range in age from early twenties to late sixties.

• Carmen Nurse is the president of SLNRWP.

Employees getting some tasty chocolate ready

Attractively packaged Chocolate from Paradise Foods

Managing Director Hubert Emmanuel

Welcome to Paradise Foods When we think of the word paradise, we think of a place of peace and tranquility, beautiful beaches, tropical fruits, flora and fauna. Well, one local company is aiming to titillate your senses through the taste buds to evoke all this and more.

Paradise Foods Saint Lucia Ltd is a Saint Lucian owned company, aiming to help promote local food production and usage.

The core business of the company is the production of Value Added Foods utilizing the abundant supply of seasonal local food crops, fruits and vegetables in Saint Lucia. And if you get the chance to be as lucky as we at “Our Saint Lucia” have been, to taste their products, they are indeed divine, delighting your senses to a place of pure bliss.

“The whole concept started in 2017,” Hubert Emmanuel Managing Director of Paradise Foods tell us. “However this place where we are operating from in Fond Assau, Babonneau was constructed under Agriculture Minister Ezekel Joseph back in 2009. At the time the Minister was really insisting that we promote added value initiatives as a means of diversifying the Agriculture industry,” Emmanuel went on to explain.

At first, the plant was used to package products such as dasheens, yams and breadfruit and to pulp fresh fruits. However with a change of Government in late 2011, the project waned into obscurity.

With agro-processing high on the agenda again, in mid-2016, a proposal was submitted and approved for the Government to lease the building to private concerns, who would then engage local farmers, thereby creating sustainable employment and more viable value added products. By 2018, Paradise Foods was off the ground with the Taiwanese Government offering technical support and training for employees. “We began training in April 2018 with three Taiwanese specialists in food processing and chocolate making, assisting our workers in acquiring the skills. As of September 2018, we were in flight with a full complement of workers and supervisors - all Saint Lucian,” Emmanuel says.

Paradise Foods currently has a staff compliment of sixteen.

The company produces beautifully packaged high end chocolates in 5 varieties; dark, white, dark-white, fruit covered (using pineapple and mango) and nut covered. These come in Tropical Paradise, Creole madras or National colours boxes and are available at the airports, Duty Pointe Seraphine, shops at the JQ and Gablewoods Mall as well as hotels.

Paradise Foods also produce fresh juices in three commercial sizes, sorbets, ice cream and packaged dried fruit.

All of the fruits are sourced locally with the company working on building a network of small farmers and sellers, thus creating employment not just in Babonneau but throughout the island.

Later this year, with the expansion into tours within the facility, Paradise Foods is hoping to create even more employment.

“This new phase which we are hoping to have up by September of this year will include a mini museum on agriculture in Saint Lucia, cultural presentations, a tasting area, gift shop and restaurant,” Emmanuel disclosed.

The Managing Director says he is eager to engage as many young persons as possible who are interested in going into agriculture and agro processing as there are tremendous opportunities in these areas.

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Soilless and Green Tech Farming

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t may have taken a while to catch on, but in recent years a number of Saint Lucians have become hooked on hydro and aquaponics technology. The aim of these farming techniques is to overcome challenges faced in the agricultural sector due to climate change and to maximize limited land use. The techniques are also seen as viable options for making Agriculture more attractive to young people.

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants indoors, using nutrient solutions instead of soil. Energy-efficient LEDs provide optimum light and the closed loop irrigation system uses 85% less water than traditional outdoor systems.

Aquaponics utilizes vertical irrigation systems and beds to grow fresh produces with nutrients from “live” fresh water fish and or shrimp integrated into the farming process.

Some Success Stories • JAMESON ALPHONSE

In 2017, 37-year-old Jameson Alphonse of Green Haven Fresh Farm received the Prime Minister’s Award for Innovation, as well as the Green Award for Energy Conservation and Idea of the Year Award at the Business Awards.

Jameson With regional government officials at Fresh Farms

• DARNEL BOXILL

His project has since been used as a model of success by experts and Agriculture ministers and officials from across the region. Jameson’s local aquaponics facility is revered due to its highly efficient use of space for economic food production. Green Haven Fresh Farm located in Choiseul is an organic aquaponics farm integrating the production of vegetables, tilapia and shrimp.

This 30 year old law student Darnel Boxill became an “agro-technology enthusiast” as he describes himself who pursued an aquaponics project recently. His project which he embarked on to develop topsoil fertility that can enrich crop production on the island is a cross between aquaculture and hydroponics. During the farming process there is a symbiotic relationship in which the fish effluent fertilizes the material in the grow-beds and the grow-beds, in turn, clean up the water, which can then be circulated over and over.

The project has ten vertical vegetable beds and four fish tanks built above each other, and is supported by an 80,000-gallon solar-powered rainwater harvesting system. Lights on automatic timers and circulatory fans are also used to control the growing area and maximize production. The organic aquaponics system, which was established in 2016, produces 1.8 t of lettuce each month and 7.25 t of tilapia annually.

It was while studying in the United Kingdom that his interest was aroused after reading up on the techniques associated with aquaponics. He later gained firsthand knowledge working alongside an independent English farmer who did part-time agriculture during the summer.

The Development of a sustainable eco-friendly youth Aquaponics Facility which will be used as a demonstration farm for teaching and development of aquaponics with Fresh Farms is seen as a way of contributing to Food and Nutritional Security.

Upon his return to Saint Lucia he submitted a proposal to the SSDF who responded favourably and provided Darnell with the startup funds to help get the project off the ground.

His initial startup location was the Boys Training Centre (BTC), located at Massade, Gros Islet, as a means of engaging the wards into something meaningful and creative.

He also plans on taking the project to the Bordelais Correctional Facility.

Jameson Alphonse with his trophies at the 2017 Business Awards.

Darnel Boxill with Vanessa Williams entrepreneurs of HIVE.

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• CUTHBERT MARSHALL

Cuthbert Marshall is new to aquaponics having recently accessed assistance from Australian Aid under the Direct Aid Project (DAP).

In February of 2019 he started his backyard aquaponics garden and less than two months later is already seeing results. He concedes that he still has a lot to learn and that while the garden requires much attention it is a joy to see the results in such a short space of time. His produce to date includes lettuce and tomatoes.

Marshall Admiring the fruits of his labour

The backyard aquaponics project taking shape

Aquaponics Farming Facts • Did you know that aquaponics farming Produces at least 10 times more crops in the same amount of space as traditional agriculture; • Consumes approximately 75% less energy than mechanized agriculture; • Uses 80-95% less water than traditional farming methods; • Produces its own nutrient-rich water as fertilizer and does not utilize any chemical pesticides; • Requires substantially less labor than required by almost all other food production methods; Fresh green produce

• Promotes strategies for adaptation to climate change and natural resource conservation?

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THE BUSINESS OF HONEY PRODUCTION Technical Support for Local Beekeepers

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rime Minister of Saint Lucia, Hon. Allen Chastanet, is encouraging more Saint Lucians to look to agriculture as a form of employment, especially that of apiculture/beekeeping.

The Prime Minister said honey production is a sustainable investment.

“It is estimated that there are approximately 3000 beehives in Saint Lucia with the highest concentration of beekeepers in the Mabouya Valley,” he said. “Under the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) Project, Mille Fleurs, the umbrella body for beekeepers on the island has been allocated space at the La Caye Inland Reception and Distribution Center (IRDC). The BAM Project has also retrofitted the building to house Mille Fleurs bottling operations and office space, and will procure equipment for Mille Fleurs’ bottling operations,” the Prime Minister explains.

“Mille Fleurs was the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), used to train and introduce 20 new persons on the island to beekeeping. The response was so overwhelming that 60 persons enrolled and were trained. At the end of the training, 23 new honey producers were selected. They were each given five hives. The expectation is that each new beekeeper will return the five hives after they have multiplied their hives to 10 or more. These hives will then be passed on to another 20 who were not selected initially.

Technical Support for Local Beekeepers

On Thursday March 28, 2019, two experts in the field of beekeeping arrived in Saint Lucia. The two Benjamin Priot from France, an agriculture specialist and Dominique Los from Martinique who is a commercial beekeeper, came to Saint Lucia with the support of the Japan Cooperation on Climate Change Project.

Richard Matthias who is a technical officer/consultant and beekeeper himself says the project proposal was done in collaboration with Anthea Joshua through the Ministry of Agriculture who submitted the proposal.

“We have been faced with some challenges over the years with our production of honey, mainly due to our methodologies and building resilience to climate change,” Matthias says. “We have also observed that even when we increase the number of bees to farms the production increase is not commensurate with this,” he went on to say. “So what we are trying to achieve with this project is firstly to improve queen raring facilities and to develop a line of bees, indigenous to Saint Lucia and then we will be introducing new production technology methodology,” he added.

While on island, the team will be collecting samples from the best apiaries for DNA profiles of local bees in an effort to zone in on the best bees for breeding. The next step will be to use this data to develop a line of bees that are more resilient to climate change before the new technology is introduced. Apiaries in Castries, Mon Repos, Vieux Fort and

Technical team out in the field

Locally produced honey

Anse La Raye are being utilized for this project.

According to Thaddeus Constantine of the Ministry of Agriculture, the overall objective is to improve honey production and bee stock here in Saint Lucia. “”This is in an effort so that farmers can realize greater benefits and more persons can be introduced to beekeeping in Saint Lucia,” he says.

Richard Matthias

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Roblot Students Serious about Farming “Our Saint Lucia” visited the students of the Roblot Combined School in Roblot Choiseul last week on a day where there were many interruptions including mock exams and school sports. However none of that was enough to deter the students not engaged in any of these from being productive. Their enthusiasm and keen interest were channeled at attending to their school garden with much pride and joy.

Marcus Felix the teacher spearheading the project explained that the venture started somewhat by accident a few years ago. “It started really with a science fair project where we experimented with the use of seaweed to surround lettuce beds as a means of keeping snails away,” Felix explains. “From there I realized the students interest in agriculture and so we started creating beds and compost heaps as well as a small green house with the involvement of the students,” he went on.

Now, besides green-house where cucumbers are grown, the students have also planted a number of fruit trees including citrus. The day of our visit they harvested several large organically grown cucumbers which we were informed supplements their school feeding program.

The participating students are from Grades 5 and 6 totaling seventeen. Assistance we were told comes from members of the community as well as the Belle Vue Farmers’ Cooperative. The school is also seeking assistance with small tools and additional guttering for its water harvesting utilized in watering the crops.

Fresh cucumbers for the school’s kitchen

Tending the compost heap

Making sure it’s good and ready

Empowering Female Farmers

Meet Keithlin Caroo, the founder of Saint Lucian non-profit Helen’s Daughters. Helen’s Daughters was formed in 2016 in a winning proposal for UN Women’s Empower Women Champions for Change Program.

Helen’s Daughters is a social enterprise that directly connects rural female farmers to the hotel industry. It was born out of the belief that there was a need to support rural women with the use of adaptive agricultural techniques, capacity building and improved market access.

The rate of unemployment in Saint Lucia amongst women (24.7%) is slightly higher than that of men (20.1%) and women, many of whom are in the agricultural sector, own two-thirds of small businesses in Saint Lucia.

To leverage the use of digital agriculture while empowering rural women to fill gaps in the agri-food-tourism system, Helen’s Daughters, in collaboration with the University of British Columbia (UBC), is providing women farmers with soil sensors that transmit environmental data (light, soil moisture, ground and surface temperature) based on the farmer’s plot of land. This data collected by the soil sensors is visualized on an online dashboard that monitors the plots of each farmer and allows Helen’s Daughters to transmit agronomic recommendations translated into the Creole language. The advice is then delivered to the farmers through an integrated voice response (IVR) system that is accessible by dialing in, whether by smart or feature phone. The initial group of women farmers participating is also being trained to understand the data from the soil sensors and adapting its information to their farming methods.

Keithlin Karoo

Delighted to be harvesting the crops

14

30 Mar 2019

www.govt.lc

Agriculture News Briefs

Export Saint Lucia is expressing confidence that some fruits from the island will soon hit the United States (US) market.

Sunita Daniel, chief executive officer of Export Saint Lucia, said presently fruits such as sour sop, mangoes and golden apples are not allowed into the US. But change is on the horizon as contacts have been made with top agricultural officials in the US on the matter.

“During the mango season we see an abundance of mangoes, some even going to waste in St. Lucia, while there is a great demand for these products in the US,” she said.

She stated that discussions have been held with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a contact was given at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Together with our Ministry of Agriculture we will examine how we can start the conversation with the USDA on lifting those restrictions for these agricultural products,” Daniel explained. “So very soon we should see the export of golden apples and mangoes to the US market.”

In February 2019, Export Saint Lucia made a familiarization and fact-finding mission to the US market.

It said that the US market has been one of the most coveted yet difficult to penetrate but will continue to actively pursue opportunities to the US. “Border regulations, including sanitary and phyto-sanitary regulations, and other non-tariff barriers, have made it increasingly difficult for small countries like Saint Lucia to successfully penetrate these markets,” the organization said.

“This grant is presented in order to help enhance Saint Lucia’s fisheries sector,” stated Mr. Yakabe, adding that this is expected to improve the operations of the sector and create a more hygienic environment which is essential for the fishing industry. “This will also assist the Government of Saint Lucia in achieving its policy objectives in food security and nutrition.”

Prime Minister Chastanet thanked the Government of Japan on behalf of the Government and People of Saint Lucia for “their incredible support to Saint Lucia over the last 40 years in the areas of fisheries, disaster risk reduction and education.”

“This is a very timely intervention and on behalf of the fishermen of Saint Lucia we want thank you for this assistance,” he noted.

Among the supplies for the local fisheries sector will be platform and countertop digital scales, coolers for fish storage on ice for landing sites, Biogas digester and energy convertor, Longliner vessel – 40ft with sleeping quarters, tuna hooks, desktop computers and printers, tablets for real time data collection, GPS devices, VHF radios, Vessel Monitoring system (VMS) for fishing vessels and main frame with software.

Daniel has hailed the mission a success.

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Agriculture Minister and Japan Head of Mission

Taiwan helps Saint Lucia banana farmers gain access to international market

Mangoes ready for export

Fisheries Sector Receives Japanese Aid

Saint Lucia’s Fisheries Sector has received some much needed aid for the procurement of essential equipment. On Wednesday March 13th 2019, the official Exchange of Notes was held between the Government of Japan and the Government of Saint Lucia for an amount of JPY200, 000, 000 or US$1.8 million, to be specifically targeted towards the Fisheries Sector.

Deputy Head of the Mission for Japan, H.E. Mr. Yoshinori Yakabe and Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet officially signed the agreement under the Economic and Social Development Programme. Also present at the signing was Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives, Honourable Ezechiel Joseph and other Government Officials.

The Taiwan Technical Mission (ICDF) in March of 2019 handed over some 38 pack houses to local banana farmers.

The facilities, which have been under construction during the past month, with funds from the ICDF, is part of a post-Tropical Storm Kirk program designed to ensure that more banana farmers obtain Global GAP certification, thereby gain access to the international banana market.

In a short ceremony held at Troumasse, Micoud to hand over the first 15 of the 38 pack houses to farmers, Mr. Mario Cheng, head of the Taiwan Technical Mission, said his government was pleased to assist the Banana Productivity Project of the Ministry of Agriculture, and by extension local banana farmers, to obtain Global GAP certification. With certification, he said it means that more local farmers can now sell their fruits on the international market. He urged the farmers to continue to produce good quality fruits and apply good agricultural practices at all times.

The ICDF Mission has also donated some eight soil testing kits and augers to the Banana Productivity Improvement Project.

Members of the ICDF Mission with local farmers

Building Resilience

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