AGRIVYBZ - NYASHA

8/14/2019 AGRIVYBZ - NYASHA

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Managing Editor: Jethro Greene | Administrative Support: Nyasha Durrant | Compilation,

Editing, Design and Layout: Pet Secretarial Services | Communication Consultant: Jeff

Trotman

AGRIVYBZCaFAN Newsletter Issue Three

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CaFAN Takes the lead role at ACP

Consultative Workshop

The Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) was at the forefront in influencing leadinginternational multilateral agencies into providing funding for Caribbean small farmersfor capacity building and increased production and productivity in four areas ofagriculture.

Chief Coordinator of CaFAN, Mr. Jethro Greene, said five donor agencies the EuropeanUnion, the World Bank, the International Trade Centre (ICT), UNCTAD and the Foodand Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations indicated their interest inbecoming involved in partnership in agriculture in the African, Pacific and Caribbeanregions at the three day workshop, which was initiated by the European Union.

The ACP Agricultural Commodities Programme Caribbean Consultative Workshop from1-3 April, 2008 at Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica, was held to brain storm ideas so thatthe EU-funded All ACP Agricultural Commodities Programme could be effective infully recognizing the links between the production and sale of commodities and povertyreduction.

Mr. Greene said that a planning meeting was held before the conference and CaFANcame up with certain position papers on root crops, spices and vegetable. We came upwith these position papers because we represent farmers and whereas other institutionsare there and were glad for their technical assistance, we dont want people to speak onour behalf. Farmers can speak on their own behalf. So, we were trying to ensure that wesensitize the donor agencies that were at that workshop to the real needs of the farmers.Continue on page 2


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Continued from page1

Greene is satisfied

that the conclusion ofthe workshop, in

acknowledgement of

the need to strengthen

farmers organization

inclusive of capacity

building, along

with some meaningfu

proposals, are

keeping with the

goals of CaFAN. He

said that CaFAN is a

network of essentially

grass root farmers

organizations and

CaFAN emphasizes

the point that, in

the final analysis, i

is the farmers who

have to produce tthheeccoommmmooddiittiieess,, aanndd

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wwaanntt aannyyoonnee ttoo

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oouurrsseellvveess aanndd wwee

iinnssiisstt tthhaatt cceerrttaaiinn

mmeeaassuurreess mmuusstt bbee

ttaakkeenn ttoo eennssuurree tthhaa

ffaarrmmeerrss aarree

eemmppoowweerreedd..

EEDDIITTOORRSSNNOOTTEE::

This issue of Agrivybz comes at time when worldwide concern is beingexpressed about impending shortages of food staples such as rice, corn and wheat and thenegative impact that could arise, not only on food security in the developing world but also onspiraling food prices.

In considering all the hysteria surrounding this so called food crisis, people in St. Vincent andthe Grenadines and the wider Caribbean must be made aware of the confusion that has arisen inthe management of food production and distribution.

For many years, changes in our eating habits have taken us away from our traditional food base,as we developed preferences for cheap unhealthy foods that have been dumped on our societies

from the more developed, industrialized countries.

As a result of our shift in dietary tastes (preferences) and changes in our lifestyle, our citizensbecame increasingly prone to chronic non communicable diseases to the extent that 60% of ourannual deaths are from these diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes(sugar) and cancer.

Additionally, an unwarranted high number of our citizens, particularly children and young people, suffer from obesity. Furthermore, diabetes is taking its toll with respect to increasing

numbers of people who have had their limbs amputated.

Private Citizens, tax payers and our governments are paying the cost of our health pipeline ofhospitals, clinics and pharmacies as a direct result of these chronic non communicable diseases.Foreign food producers have been able to influence our politicians to move away from ourtraditional food base such as root crops, local fruits and vegetables, banana and coconut oil, justto name a few, to increase our dependence on flour, corn and wheat based food products.

It is well known, even more so today, that our traditional local food base can be effective in fighting and arresting the chronic non communicable diseases that afflict our Caribbeanpopulations.

CaFAN members must move to consolidate local production, with emphasis on linkingagriculture to health, nutrition and all other food sectors, including tourism and the hospitalityindustries.

We must lead the way in reorienting our populations towards the health value of local foods. Wemust lobby our politicians to emphasize the importance of increasing production of local foods.We must remind our politicians that they ought to have learnt their lesson and not be fooled by

foreign food producers and their selfish agendas. Never again must we allow this to happen.

AGRIVYBZ


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The EU-funded All ACP Agricultural CommoditiesProgramhas its roots in the EU Action Plan on AgriculturalCommodities, Dependence and Poverty (COM (2004) 89), theEU-Africa Partnership for Cotton Sector Development (COM(2004) 87) and various ACP initiatives related toagricultural commodities during the Cotonou and Dohanegotiations. As such, it recognizes fully the link betweenthe production and sale of commodities and povertyreduction.

The overall objective of the program is to improve incomesand livelihoods for ACP producers of traditional and otheragricultural commodities, and to reduce incomevulnerability at both producer and macro levels. The

specific objective is to build the capacity of stakeholders allalong the commodity value chain to conceive andimplement sustainable commodity strategies. These willcharacteristically enhance farmers productivity andcompetitiveness, increase returns to labor, reduce incomefluctuations, open up new market opportunities, includingdiversification, and facilitate recourse to market-based riskmanagement instruments.

The Program is expected to achieve four concrete results:

Commodity Chain Stakeholders in ACPcountries/regions have the capacity to develop, adapt

and implement effective and sustainable commoditystrategies

Strategic priorities are effectively implemented organizational capabilities of National CommodityChain Stakeholders (NCCS) and production factors andsupport services are improved

Market-based risk management instruments aredeveloped and their usage increased

Effective use is made of the expertisecomplementarities and synergies of program partnersin the area of agricultural commodities to the benefit ofstakeholders.

While all ACP countries are eligible to program supportpriority beneficiaries are defined as countries that arehighly dependent on a small number of agricultural productsand whose dependence affects a large number of poor people.

The Caribbean Kick-Off Workshop (KOW) held April 1-32008 was part of the regional consultations held throughou

the ACP under the All ACP Agricultural CommoditiesProgram to define, in a participatory manner, the priorityneeds of ACP countries that can be addressed by partnerinternational organizations under the Program mandate.

The regional kick-off Workshops (KOW) constitute animportant program activity in providing an opportunity forenlisting the active participation of stakeholders from theregion in identifying and analyzing issues and developingappropriate responses.

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AGRIVYBZ

Expected workshop outputs include:

A clear understanding by stakeholders of theprogram processes, its implementation mechanisms,services on offer, and program scope.

Meaningful inputs from workshop participants toguide drafting of the work plans of theimplementation agencies i.e. the five partnerinternational organizations. The setting up ofnational/regional stakeholder teams to interact withthe Coordination Unit and the InternationalOrganizations in coordinating and managing theprogress of implementation of Program activities insynergy with other development activities as

appropriate.


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(L-R) Jethro Greene (ECTAD) | Pathleen Titus

(CARDI Representative. St. Vincent) | Lauren

Baptiste (CARDI field Officer) | Dr. Don Iton

(CARDI market expert, Trinidad)

CaFAN and CARDI

To sign Memorandum of Understanding

The Caribbean Research andDevelopment Institute (CARDI) andthe Caribbean Farmers Network(CaFaN) have agreed in principle tosign a Memorandum ofUnderstanding.CARDI, which has its headquartersin Trinidad and Tobago andrepresentatives in most Caricom

countries, is mandated to provide forthe agricultural research anddevelopment needs of the CaribbeanCommunity.CaFAN is made up of agriculturalorganizations from CARICOMcountries. Its Secretariat is the St.Vincent based Eastern CaribbeanAgriculture and DevelopmentOrganization (ECTAD).

CaFANs mission is to enhance the

well being and competitiveness ofCaribbean farmers throughsustainable development of theagricultural and rural sectors, thuscontributing to the repositioning ofCaribbean economies. Its goal is toimprove the quality of life forfarmers, especially small farmfamilies throughout the Caribbean.Bearing in mind their commoninterests with respect to increasing

farm productivity and income aswell as improving the overall welfareof farmers through the strengtheningof individual and organizationalcapacity, the two entities haverecorded their understanding underfour articles, to be signed by theExecutive Director of CARDI and theChairperson of CaFANs ExecutiveCommittee.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Memorandum ofUnderstanding is to establish aframework for collaboration betweenCARDI and CaFAN. Under

ARTICLE 1

it is acknowledged that CARDI is thelead Agricultural Research andDevelopment Organization in theCaribbean - established in 1975 toserve the agricultural research anddevelopment needs of CARICOMMember States - and that CARDIsrecently revised mission statement,Enhancing the socioeconomic well-being of Caribbean people throughresearch that improves thecompetitiveness and sustainability ofregional agriculture has threeessential commonalities with theCaFAN mission - wellbeing,competitiveness and the Caribbeanpeople/farmers.Additionally, the recent CTA/IICAco-funded CARDI 2008-2010 strategicplanning workshop on Developmentof Strategic Linkages recognized that

it is necessary for CARDI to buildand maintainrelationships/partnerships withdonors, stakeholders, other R&Dinstitutions, private sector and otherinstitutions.In this regard CARDI has identifiedsome areas for collaborativeinitiatives such as: (a) Commoditydevelopment (including livestock,

conventional & organic cropproduction systems) (b) Informationsystems and services (c) Projectdevelopment.

ARTICLE II

Under Article II, CARDI and CaFANwill establish a CaFAN/CARDIcollaborative Network in whichCARDI is recognized as an

agreed/principal executing arm ofselected CaFAN initiatives. In thisregard it is mutually understood andagreed that CARDI will providetechnical support to CaFAN in thefollowing areas: (a) Strategicplanning, project development andnetwork strengthening (b) Ruralcommunity/social surveys; (c)Market research (d) Improvedcommodity production and post-harvest systems (e) Businessdevelopment (f) Access to technologyinformation. Additionally, CaFANwill: (e) Collaborate with CARDI inspecified CARDI initiatives tovalidate and transfer its technologyproducts and services (f) Collaboratewith CARDI in specified CARDIinitiatives to assemblesocial/scientific data.

AGRIVYBZ


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The Foundation for Women in Agriculture Stichting Agrarische Vrouwen (SAV) is a grassroots community based organization

located and operating in the rural district of Commewijne, one of the 10 administrative districts of the Republic of Suriname.

INTRODUCING A HOLISTIC LIFE

IMPROVEMENT AND GROUP APPROACH

TO

IMPROVE THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF RURAL WOMEN IN

THE DISTRICT OF COMMEWIJNE

The SAV is a registered civil societyorganization that was officiallyestablished on the 29th of May 1996with the mission to promoteagriculture business among ruralwomen in Commewijne throughtraining and coaching, rent machinesand equipment, sell inputs and plantmaterials, and assist with themarketing of produce. It started to

work with rural women in a smallhouse located at the Weg naarPeperpot (road to Peperpot).

HISTORYTwenty years before the officialestablishment of SAV its currentmembers were the victims ofunemployment when in 1978Surinames only sugar caneplantation and sugar factory inMarienburg (Commewijne) closed

down and all the labourers lost theirjobs. Several men were able to find anew job but the majority stayed andstarted farming to feed their families.The families started to cultivatevegetables, fruit, cut flowers and rootcrops. Agriculture became theirmajor or secondary income source.The women became mostly involved

in vegetable production andsometimes shared activities withtheir husbands or both workedtogether to make a living fromagriculture. The land became over-exploited and unsound use ofpesticides and other chemicals wasforced upon the poor farmers by the

urgency of immediate survival. Cowsand other cattle were dying becausechemicals polluted the waterirrigation system that was used bythe cattle for drinking. There werecases of malnutrition among infants.

TRAININGSWith donor funds women weretrained to use chemicals properly.They learned how to feed theirchildren nutritious food. Capacitybuilding seminars and workshops

were held for them in various typesof training related to agriculture andthey developed skills in foodprocessingAdditionally, SAV began translatingthe prescription on the labels ofbottled pesticides and otherchemicals from English into Dutchand taught the women how to usethe chemicals.SAV also processes food. Theseinclude: peanut butter and hot

peanut sauce, grated pomtayer (tayeris a big yellow root), banana chips,cassava chips, soy bean sauce,cooked foods and sweets, and fruit

juices. Women sell their agriculturalproduce along main roads or in frontof their homes. SAV regularlyorganizes agricultural fairs tostimulate farmers to improve the

quality and number of their produceIn the meantime, the number of SAVmembers has been increasing. Thefarmers also started a market at theeast-west road in Tamanredjo.

In 1999 SAV received funding tobuild a proper market andprocessing factory. At the compoundwhich SAV requested and receivedfrom the government the followingactivities had taken place: Building of a new marketplace Construction of a processing

facility Storage facility for the tractor

rotavator and other agriequipment

SAV moved to the new facilitiesat the Pandit Tilakhdariweg nr 9in Tamanredjo from where icontinues its services to date.

Globalization imposes newchallenges for farmers as Good

Agricultural Practices (GAP) areconditional to protect the safety opeople and the environmentPreparations are being made to teachfarmers Global GAP rules and certifythem and their farm processingfacilities.

AGRIVYBZ


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ECTAD bridging the generation gap

Chief Coordinator of ECTAD, Jethro Greene is

challenging young Vincentians to eat more locallyproduced food and to become appreciative of thecontribution of local farmers to the nations food security.

Greene has been intensifying his message as ECTADprogresses in its nine month pilot project, LinkingAgriculture to Health and Nutrition in collaboration withthe Ministry of Agriculture and the Nutrition Unit of theMinistry of Health and the Environment.

Following the launching exercise and planning seminar to

kick off the pilot programme in September last year, all thefollow up workshops have featured a high proportion ofyouths and school children as participants - from the NorthLeeward Area in December as well as the three workshopsin June 2008 at Questelles (South Leeward), Greggs (CentraWindward) and Georgetown (North Windward).

According to Mr. Greene, most Vincentian young peopledont like to eat the fruits that are produced in the country hence the reason for inviting school children to theLinking Agriculture to Health and Nutrition workshopsThe thing is, he stressed at the Greggs workshop, the

food that we take for granted, and our farmers have beengrowing for years, are the kind of foods that can make ourpopulation healthy not the kind of food that is imported.

For example, when you look at imported white rice,when you look at imported white sugar, when you look ateven comparing the imported apple you dont knowwhere they come from because recently in the UnitedStates you see a lot of people suffering from healthproblems because the tomato grown there wascontaminated. We know that when we grow our foods inSt. Vincent and we know if we handle it, most of our fruitsare clean.

So when you look at the fruits that are imported that ourpeople have grown accustomed to, we realize that there isone thing that we have to do and even the government andall those people in key areas are recognizing it now, is thatwe have to go back to the land and we have to go back torespecting our farmers. And that is why, we are goingthroughout the length and breadth of this country withthese workshops to try to make our people realize howimportant farming is and to try to get our young people tostart to understand how important it is that they utilize thefruits and vegetables that we have in this country

AGRIVYBZ


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Pointing to the increasing impact of chronic non communicable diseases suchas cancer, diabetes (sugar), obesity and hypertension (pressure) on the society,the ECTAD Chief Coordinator said healthy eating could prevent those kindsof diseases and most of the time, the fruits and vegetables that we take forgranted are the kind of things that could help fight cancer, fight diabetes, etc.That is why we are in partnership with the Ministry of Health and theMinistry of Agriculture .

We are showing the link between agriculture and nutrition and this is why atthe workshop what we normally have is the Ministry of Agriculture talkingabout how to produce fruits and vegetables in your area and the Ministry ofHealth talking about how important it is to use them.

He is confident that the combination should put the country in a position to bebetter able to produce healthier citizens and to be able to guide and advise thenations young people as well as the older folks about the importance ofsupporting their own farmers and the health benefits that would bring to thesociety.

He said ECTAD is not only committed by words it is showing itscommitment by action. That is why at the end of every workshop weencourage participants to have a small backyard garden by giving them a fewsamples of seeds to grow in the backyard. Even if it means a banana boxfilled with sand, or a few plastic containers filled with sand, we want that greenthroughout every area. We want it in the town. We want it in the country. Andthese people from the country-side, who have been feeding the population ofSt. Vincent and being taken for granted for a long time-people are beginning to

realize how important it is for us. That is why we must now be in a position tocontinue to do this so that we can deal with the so-called food crisis that theyretalking about.

We dont need to wait until the politicians come and tell us there is a foodcrisis. We only have food crisis because a large percentage of our young peopledont eat the foods that we have here and because it is not properly distributed.

So, it is time that we begin the process and this is one thing our organizationis going to do, begin the process of going back to the land and going back toour local foods.

AGRIVYBZ


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Standing L-R: Mr. Paul Spencer, Advisor to the Secretary General, OAS; Michael Rodrigues, USPC Volunteer, GARD Center; MLinda Eddleman, Executive Director, Trust for the Americas; Mrs. Roberta Williams, Executive Director GARD Center; H.E. Jos

Miguel Insulza, Secretary General, Organisation of the America States; Ms. Cecily Norris, Director, Organization of the AmericStates, Antigua; Ms. Asha Williams, Program Manager, POETA Youth Coordinator, Trust for the Americas. Seated L-R: H.E

Deborah-Mae Lovell Permanent Re resentative to the OAS Ms. Isabelle Brune Student GARD Center

GARD Centre

presents:

Culinary specialist, Dr. Carol A. Gilkes,from Purdue University, recently visited Antigua to consult on enhancingculinary tourism in Antigua andBarbuda. Her trip was sponsored by thenon-government organization theGilbert Agricultural and RuralDevelopment Center (GARD Center) incollaboration with the Ministry of

Agriculture and the Organization ofAmerican States (OAS).

Stakeholders, including local hotel chefs, farmers, agricultural extension officers,and others related to the hospitalitysector, participated in week longactivities, which included visits by Dr.Gilkes to hotel kitchens, farms andcommunity elders, who sharedinformation on traditional local dishes

for Dr. Gilkes to get an understanding ofthe local cultural perspective of

Antiguan foods.

Dr. Gilkes also conducted sessions withhospitality students, under the guidanceof Ms. Colleen Simpson, Chef Instructorat the Antigua and Barbuda HospitalityInstitute, about current trends inculinary tourism.

Dr Gilkes also engaged indeconstructing and reconstructingtraditional local recipes to upscale them

for tourist appreciation.

Secretary General of the OAS,

Tours the Gilbert Agricultural

and Rural Development Center

On July 1st, H.E. Jose MiguelInsulza, Secretary General of theOAS, praised the GilbertAgricultural and Rural DevelopmentCenter (GARD Center) for itsprogressive work in youthdevelopment and with agriculturalproducers. The GARD Centerrecently joined the Partnership inOpportunities for Employmentthrough Technology in the Americas(POETAs) youth developmentproject that is sponsored by theTRUST for the Americas.

The POETA project uses adaptivetechnologies, such as office relatedsoftware Word, Excel, andPowerPoint, to empower youth. ICTtraining is complemented bycurricula such as civic education, jobreadiness, and micro-enterprisedevelopment. In addition theCenter, as a non-governmentorganization has formed a unique

partnership with the OAS and theMinistry of Agriculture in anagricultural, agri-tourism linkageproject over the past five years. Thisproject fostered and promoted

agriculture as a competitive partnerwith tourism, strengtheningproducers skills in productionplanning, preparing their farms tobecome certified in GoodAgricultural Practices and addingvalue with farm tourism.

While visiting the GARD Center, arecognition ceremony was held, andH.E. Secretary General Insulza, alongwith Linda Eddleman (ExecutiveDirector of the Trust for the

Americas), OAS representative oAntigua and Barbuda Ms. CecilyNorris, and Antiguas PermanenRepresentative to the OAS H.EDeborah-Mae Lovell, toured theGARD Center to see the project inaction. They spoke with students andgraduates to get feedback about theprogram.

Since the project began in March2008, GARD Center has graduated 45students, at which H.E. Insulza

expressed his gratitude. At theconclusion of the ceremony giftswere exchanged between the OASand the GARD Center, and H.EInsulza stated he looked forward toreturning to the Center.

AGRIVYBZ


9/16

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ACTION ON PRAEDIAL LARCENY

IN DOMINICA

The scourge of praediallarceny has the potential todrive farmers out of businessand I am ready to give up. Thisis the feeling one farmerexpressed at a meeting calledby the Minister of Agriculture,Hon Matthew Walter, to get aconsensus on urgent need toaddress Praedial Larceny inDominica.

The Minister, in an earliercontribution testified of raisinggoats which he did not have theheart to kill; nonetheless heregularly purchased goat meat.Only when advised that hisstock had reached below ten thathe found he was purchasing hisown goats. He immediatelyceased raising them.

At a follow-up meeting, farmersand representatives of theMinistry of Agriculture, LegalAffairs, Bureau of Standards,Hucksters Association, DEXIA,Police Service, Youth inAgriculture and FisheriesDivision sought to achieve animmediate action.

The meeting recognized thatPraedial Larceny was both aland and sea based activity.Measurers emerged at themeeting included:-

Review of currentLegislation.

Review Legislation ofsome territories e.g.Trinidad and Tobagoetc.

Praedial Larceny Squadmay need to be formed.

Corporal punishments(reintroduced).

Setting up of specialPraedial Larceny Courts.

Sensitization of policeand customs officials.

Sensitization of hotelsand supermarkets

Possible monitoring themovements of fishingvessels.

Closer networkingamong the agencieswhich have the capacityto impact on curbing theproblem.

Strengthening theprocedure for issuing offarmers and traderslicenses for commercialtrading.

A larger group meeting orconsultation which will reviewand further develop the above is

expected within two months.

The National economic loss hasnot been determined, but onelarge farmer lamented that hisannual losses were in excess ofEC$100,000.00. This is onematter that requires urgentactions.

AGRIVYBZ

Farm

Tourism

A newbeginning

in Antigua

and

Barbuda

A team of four Extension Officerand Agricultural Producers had anopportunity to travel to Jamaica tovisit different types of farm tourismsites. This activity is the result of an

agricultural, agri- tourism projecbeing carried out by the Gilbert

Agricultural and Development Center, a non-profiNGO, operating under the auspicesof the Methodist Church in theCaribbean and the Americas andspecializing in enterprise training in

Antigua and Barbuda.

This three year project has beencarried out in collaboration with the

Ministry of Agriculture and thOrganization of American States.One of the objectives of this projectis to add value to the tourism

product by developing farm tourand upgrading the farm experienceand products to a level consistentwith best practices.

As part of the agri-tourism projecvisitation were made to farms tobserve the operations of differen

agri-tourism ventures which incorporated, adding attractions sucas pick it yourself, petting zoosdelis, bakeries, tractor-trailer rides aof which added value to these farmwhich produced crops of apple

peaches and pumpkins.

A number of functioning farms Antigua and Barbuda are bemonitored in preparation fooperating farm tours and tradinwith participating hotels anrestaurants.


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Grass root farmers achieving success in St. Lucia

A member of the CaFAN network, the Belle Vieux FarmersCooperative along with three other farmers cooperatives has

embarked on a successful initiative of linking agriculture totourism in St. Lucia. Although the project is funded byOxfam through the Windward Islands Farmers Association(WINFA), the Belle Vieux Farmers Cooperative, which is acore member of CAFAN, is the managing institution for theproject.

A major guiding influence has been ECTAD in terms ofguiding the management and production implementation ofthe project, which is aimed at strengthening the capacity offarmers organizations to produce high quality commoditiesfor the tourism market in St. Lucia. This capacity building isdone through workshops and practical training sessions.

There is a revolving fund called a buffer fund - whichallows farmers to obtain money quickly when they sell theirproduce.

There is also an input revolving fund, which allows farmersto readily obtain fertilizers and necessary commodities toproduce on a continuous basis.

Chief Coordinator of ECTAD, the St. Vincent basedSecretariat of CaFAN, Jethro Greene, has been involved in theproject from its inception. He said the project can bemeasured as being successful because the hotel sector issaying that since the hotels have been buying locally they

have been saving money because it is cheaper for them tobuy high quality produce. He said, additionally, the hotel

guests prefer the local vegetables more than the importedones.

Mr. Greene said 200 farmers are directly involved in theproject, which indirectly encompasses thousands of farmersHe added that other people have been benefiting from theprogram, which is a model project in St. Lucia. It issomething that Im proud to be an architect of, Greene saidadding that the farmers have now branded their produceFarm Fresh St. Lucia, which is now in the supermarketsgiving the producers in this enterprise a distinct brand.

Part of the project is to help build advocacy skills in thefarmers organization and that has been done. So, the farmersare now better able to lobby government better. But, most ofall, the project has been so successful in St. Lucia that wevefound a situation in which you have had a 500% increase inproduction of some commodities tomatoes, cabbage, carrotsand lettuce - since the project started. They are all purchasedby the hotels.

The ECTAD Chief Coordinator said the project has been sosuccessful that farmers organizations, to which governmentshad been indifferent, are now being recognized bygovernment by placing representatives from theseorganizations on various Boards of Directors and are nowbeing consulted by the government on agricultural issues.He said the supermarkets want to create special space for theFarm Fresh St. Lucia branded produce.

CaFAN to push regional governments for more

CARDI funding

The Eastern Caribbean Agriculture DevelopmentOrganization (ECTAD) is calling on regional governments toprovide increased funding to the Caribbean Agriculture

Research Institute (CARDI) for more research anddevelopment projects.

In making the call, Jethro Greene, Chief Coordinator ofECTAD said: Because of the pending food crisis and the

rising fuel cost and the high cost of production, we need toget our main research organization, CARDI, more engagedin research as to how to reduce production costs, and howto reduce input costs.

The head of the St. Vincent based ECTAD, which is theSecretariat for the Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN)said: We need to look seriously at more inter cropping -multiple cropping - where instead of depending on externalfertilizer and external inputs, we look more at companionplanting, and how we can get different types of crops tocomplement one another.

According to Greene, the regions agricultural researchersneed to put greater emphasis on more environmentally

friendly agriculture a more sustainable system, ratherthan a system that is dependent on fertilizers and chemicalsimported from outside.

He said companion planting had been long established inSt. Vincent and the Grenadines but people moved awayfrom traditional agriculture because of fast commerciaagriculture, which has proven to be environmentallyunfriendly. Less emphasis was placed on the real thingthat is sustainable, and now we are more dependent onexternal supplies. It was all a plot, and now we got to goback to the old school.

AGRIVYBZ


11/16

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Presentation by Mr. Jethro Greene to Pan Commonwealth Civil Society Consultation on the Special Theme of the 2008Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting 8-10 July - Implication of High Food and Energy Prices for Economic Management.

CaFAN and Its Focus

CaFAN recognizes that there are

some critical issues arising amongst

farmers organization that must beaddressed in order to improve

farmers organization capability.

Farmers associations have

insufficient representation and

management capacities to meet the

demands of the current global and

regional environments. They also

have poor information base and

insufficient capacities to articulate

their sectorial interests and

proposals to influence decision-making, particularly at the regional

level.

The longevity of the agricultural

sector and the membership base of

farmers organizations are

threatened by the very limited

involvement of the youth in

agriculture.

CaFANs major focus is to foster

linkages, training and information

sharing amongst Caribbean farmersso that they are in a better position

to face the key challenges with a

view of coming up with feasible

proposals for solutions at the

national and regional levels. CaFAN

has identified several program areas

for action.

These include enhancing the

capacity of farmers organizations to

represent their members, raisingawareness and make decisions on

issues affecting farmers. It also

means mobilizing research on

farmers behavior, facilitating

increased communication and

technological sharing amongst

network members and facilitating

coordination of production,

marketing and trade issues in

support of its members.

CaFANs approach to

the Current Situation

of food Crisis and high

Cost of Foods

CaFAN members have always beenin the forefront of lobbying, ourgovernments, government officialsPrivate and NGO Sectors to putagriculture on the top priority ofdevelopment issues.

CaFAN has been advocating overthe last decade for the Caribbean to

have a food security plan based onthe local foods grown throughouthe Caribbean, starting at thenational level and linking in at anetwork regional level. It takes acrisis in food for our governments to

start to pay attention to us. As theysay better late than never.

We in CaFAN are on the frontline oensuring that we do not miss thisopportunity to stabilize our

agriculture and our food security.

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In April 2008 CaFAN membersadvanced proposals to an allAgriculture CommodityProgram(ACP) consultative workshopin Jamaica on several crop productionand value chain action in root crops,vegetables and fruits as part of anoverall regional agriculture program.This approach can lead to greater foodsecurity, increase interregional trade,greater export earnings for farmersand linkage to nutrition, health andthe agro processing sector.

Jethro Greene

Our proposal targets several rootcrops such as sweet potatoes, eddoes,yams and cassava as base core crops.We target key foods such as pumpkin,

tomatoes, sweet pepper and bananasas key security foods. (CaFAN isbeginning the promotion - A Banana aDay Keeps the Doctor Away andpromoting the use of local fruits andvegetables thus providing linkages ofour agriculture to other sectors).

CaFAN Members

in Action

In St Lucia Bellevue FarmersCooperative and its network the StLucia Association of FarmersCooperative are involved in a projectfunded by (OXFAM), managedthrough WINFA with technicalsupport from ECTAD St. Vincent &the Grenadines. This project aims atgetting local hotels to purchase morelocal produce. Ongoing for 2 years, itis a successful case of cooperationbetween government and traditionalprivate sector hotels and farmersorganization,

In St Vincent & the GrenadinesECTAD is involved in a project withthe Ministries of Health andAgriculture with support from theleadership of the local Chamber of

Industry and Commerce in linkingagriculture to health and nutrition.This project has seen major turn out atworkshops and increased interest inbackyard gardening and utilizing oflocal fruits and vegetables. Our pilotproject targets farmers andschoolchildren in joint workshops tostimulate awareness and interest onsubject areas.

CaFAN is making good use ofCARDI program in St Vincent & the

Grenadines and Jamaica workingwith farmers to produce select cropssuch as sweet potatoes and other rootcrops on a sustainable basis for boththe local consumption and inter-regional / export market. A SweetPotato Production Planning andMarketing pilot project was launchedby ECTAD in St Vincent with supportfrom CARDI and the Ministry ofAgriculture.

Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS)and Barbados Agriculture Society(BAS) have been involved in (Buyand Eat local) campaigns centered onlocal food production. In Jamaica,special emphasis is targeting youngpeople in farming agriculture as abusiness.

In the case of Guyana Rice ProducerAssociation (GRPA), there has beenincreased production to meetdemands. In the process, they areempowering their farmers.

Key Constrains that we mustaddress include increased cost ofagricultural input such as fertilizersand pesticides due to increased oilprices, the increased cost ofmarketing, ranging from packagingmaterial to increased cost oftransportation and increased cost oflabor. The increased potentialthreat from large businesses tomanipulate the food market and tocontrol large tracks of lands that

could possibly lead to thedisplacement of our traditionasmall farmers is also a keyconstraint.

Opportunities

While there are several challengeswe in CaFAN recognize theenormous opportunities presentedto Caribbean farmers. Theseinclude the potential of renewableenergy, formulation of programsand strategies for more investmentworking with Government to createthe right policy environment foragriculture, strengthening themanagement and technical capacityof farmers organizationsformulating creative programs andstrategies to get more investmentlinking agriculture to tourism, agro-processing, health and nutrition andgetting our people to produce andeat healthy local foods that can fightnon-communicable diseases (NCD).

Support Research andDevelopment

CaFAN sees this as an opportunityfor us to work with and challengeour scientists, governmeninstitutions, universities, collegesand private sector to seriouslycoordinate efforts in renewable andalternative energy in a more locaand consumer friendly society.

It is our firm belief that through theareas we have outlined forimplementation and action. CaFANwill work together with our

partners, with our governments andprivate sector to meet the challengesthat are associated with rising foodand energy prices. We believe thaworking together will offer theCaribbean a great opportunity tostabilize it agriculture system forfood security on a more long-termsustainable basis.

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Denbigh agricultural & industrial

show 2008 Jamaica

History of Denbigh Agricultural & Industrial Show

The Denbigh Agricultural andIndustrial Show is a hallmark eventthat has been embedded in the

unique culture and the broad fabricsof the Jamaican people from as earlyas 1953 to the present.

Situated on twenty nine hectares ofpicturesque lands at May Pen,Clarendon, the Denbigh Show comesto life for three days of pulsatingactivities offering wholesome

entertainment to over sixty thousandpatrons that have been attending theevent on an annual basis.

Spirits have been lifted andenthusiasm built for theunforgettable experience of the grandExposition that has been renownedfor promoting the farmers livelihood,

i.e. the finest quality agriculturalproduce from varied commoditygroups, its value added products,industrial and technologicalequipment from main stakeholdersaffiliated within the agriculturalsector.

As is traditionally expected, each day

of the show is especially dedicated toa particular Government Officialwho addresses the audience orpatrons.

Many of these invited guests whohave made valid contributions to theShows experience include: Governorof Puerto Rico in 1955, the former

Governor Generals Sir CliffordCampbell, Sir Florizel Glasspole, SirHoward Cooke and the presentGovernor General Professor SirKenneth Hall.

Heads of Governments who alsoattended the show were SirAlexander Bustamante, Rt. Hon.

Norman Manley, Rt. Hon. HughShearer, Sir Donald Sangster, Rt.Hon. Michael Manley, Rt. Hon.Edward Seaga, The Most. Hon. P.JPatterson and Most Hon. Portia

Simpson Miller have all supportedand assisted in the promotion of thishistorical event.

Special attention has consistentlybeen placed on the ChampionFarmer and Young ChampionFarmer Competitions that showcasefarmers who have excelled in cuttingedged farm practices.

It will be great Denbigh 2008

This year, the DenbighAgricultural and Industrial Show,which will be held on August 1st

to 3rd 2008 is organized incollaboration with the Ministry ofAgriculture during a periodwhere there are serious andfundamental threats to thenations food security.

Self-sufficiency is indeed the visionwithin the Society thus the theme,

Grow what we Eat, and Eat whatwe grow is demonstrative of theway forward to ensure survivalamidst the present challenges. Boothholders will therefore showcase theunique and creative manner in which

quality agricultural produce andvalue added items can be packagedand showcased for the local andinternational market with a focus on

improving the health and wellness othe Society.

Denbigh 2008 will highlight newtechnologies and its effective impain improving the levels o

productivity within the agricultursector. In addition we will focus ovaried aspects of mechanizefarming from Delta Supplies, thapplication of tractor servicimproved communication service

by Digicel and farm and gardesupplies through the Jamaica BroilerGroup.

An alliance has also been forged witthe Jamaica Tourist Board tdemonstrate the tremendous markethat can be gleaned in using locproducts within the tourism sector.

A Farmers Market will provide aopportunity for farmers to marke

their produce on the three days of thshow. A very special feature thyear will be the implementation othe long anticipated EmancipatioVillage offering historical data anartifacts of predecessors iagriculture.

In terms of nightly entertainment th

expected highlights are:

Farmers Parade & FarmQueen Coronation Show

Rising Stars Finalists andKaraoke Saturday

Jamaica Broilers 50 FestGospel Explosion Sunday

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L-R President of the JAS, Senator Norman Grant and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Donavan

Stanberry, strikes a pose with 2008 finalists in the National Farm Queen Competition at the Launch of the National Farm Queen

Competition, Morgans Harbor Hotel. Missing- Ms. St. Thomas and Manchester Farm Queens.

HIGHLIGHTING WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

National Farm Queen to be crowned at the 50th

staging of the Denbigh Agriculture Show

The Jamaica Agricultural Society will be crowning its 45th National Farm Queen on day one of the 56thStaging of the Denbigh Agricultural Show.

This competition seeks to empower women in agriculture while increasing their knowledge base on thevalue of agriculture to the economy and existing business opportunities, while encouraging them tocontinue to make their mark on the sector and the farm family.

This years competition will see twelve parish queens vie for the title of National Farm Queen whileutilizing this platform to be an agricultural ambassador representing the Jamaica Agricultural Society andthe agricultural sector both locally and overseas, during her one year reign.

2008CONTESTANTS

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CAFAN UPCOMING

ACTIVITIES

2008-2009

The overall objective of the CaFAN work programme forthe period 2008 to 2009 is to contribute to enhancing thecompetitiveness of Caribbean farmers and improving thequality of life of farmers families.

CaFAN will focus on a number of activities including:

Conduct a campaign to mobilise new membersand establish national focal points

Institutionalize CaFAN

Develop a CaFAN members and stakeholdersdatabase

Conduct a workshop on Agricultural TradeFacilitation

Conduct a workshop on Community-basedDisaster Management

Conduct a workshop on Farmers Organizationsand Youth Involvement in the Caribbean

Agriculture

Produce and disseminate its Newsletter(Agrivybz)

Upgrade its Website Update and disseminate its Members and

Stakeholders Directory

Produce and disseminate fact sheets

CaFANs major focus is to link Caribbean farmers so thatthey are in a better position to face key challenges, with aview of coming up with feasible proposals for solutions atthe national and regional levels. The Network hasidentified several programme areas which includeenhancing the capacities of farmers associations to

represent their members, raise awareness and influencedecisions on issues affecting farmers, mobilise resources onbehalf of members, and facilitate the increase incommunication between and among the network members.

Membership of CaFAN is open to farmers associations incountries of the Caribbean region. To date, the followingcountries have participated in activities of CaFAN:

Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, DominicaGrenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts/Nevis; St Lucia, StVincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago andSuriname.

AGRIVYBZ

CaFAN Objectives

Contribute toenhance themarketing andservice deliverycapacities ofCaribbean farmers

associations;

Increasecommunication andexchange of ideas,experiences,resourcesinformation and

technologies betweenand among farmersorganizations;

Raise awareness,advocate andcollectively influencedecisions on regionalissues affecting

regional agriculture;

Mobilise resources for and on behalf ofNetwork members.


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Caribbean Farmers Network

C/o Eastern Caribbean Trading Agriculture

and Development Organization(ECTAD)

P.O. Box 827, Beachmont

Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

[email protected] or [email protected]

www.caribbeanfarmers.org

Tel: (784) 453-1004 Fax: (784) 453-1239

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural cooperation (CTA)

However, the views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of CTA

AGRIVYBZ - NYASHA

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