1

CaFAN Newsletter Issue Three

AGRIVYBZ E
Eddiittoorr’’ss N
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CaaFFA
AN
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Workshop, JJaam
o r k s h o p , maaiiccaa
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M e m
Memo ofo o f
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Agriculture –t u r e –
SSuurriinnaammee

CAFAN LEADS THE WAY G

A
Grraassss R
ev
Roooott FFaarrm
e Su c ce s
meerrss
Achieve Success iinn SStt..
c h i s
LLuucciiaa
CaFAN Takes the lead role at ACP
Consultative Workshop E
ECCTTA
ADDB Brriiddggeess
G
Generatiioonn G
en erat Gaapp
The Caribbean Farmer’s Network (CaFAN) was at the forefront in influencing leading
international multilateral agencies into providing funding for Caribbean small farmers C
CaaFFAANNC Caallllss ffoorr M
Moorree
for capacity building and increased production and productivity in four areas of G
Goovveerrnnm
meenntt
agriculture. FFuunnddiinngg ffoorr C
CAAR
RDDII
Chief Coordinator of CaFAN, Mr. Jethro Greene, said five donor agencies – the European G
GAAR RDDCCP Prreesseenntt
Union, the World Bank, the International Trade Centre (ICT), UNCTAD and the Food C
Culinary TToouurriissm
u li n ar y m
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations – indicated their interest in
becoming involved in partnership in agriculture in the African, Pacific and Caribbean OOAASS SSeeccrreettaarryy GGeenneerraall
TToouurrss G A R D
GARDC in C i n
regions at the three day workshop, which was initiated by the European Union.
AAnnttiigguuaa
The ACP Agricultural Commodities Programme Caribbean Consultative Workshop from A
AN Neew wBBeeggiinnnniinngg iinn
1-3 April, 2008 at Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica, was held to brain storm ideas so that A n t i
Antigua gu a
the EU-funded “All ACP Agricultural Commodities Programme” could be effective in
fully recognizing the links between the production and sale of commodities and poverty D
Doom miinniiccaa’’ss A
Accttiioonn oonn
P
Prraaeeddiiaall LLaarrcceennyy
reduction.
C
CaaFFA
ANN iinn FFooccuuss
Mr. Greene said that a planning meeting was held before the conference and CaFAN
came up with certain position papers on root crops, spices and vegetable. “We came up DDeennbbiigghh A Aggrriiccuullttuurraall &
&
with these position papers because we represent farmers and whereas other institutions IInndduussttrriiaall SShhooww 220 00 088
are there and we’re glad for their technical assistance, we don’t want people to speak on
our behalf. Farmers can speak on their own behalf. So, we were trying to ensure that we
sensitize the donor agencies that were at that workshop to the real needs of the farmers.”
Continue on page 2…

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Managing Editor: Jethro Greene | Administrative Support: Nyasha Durrant | Compilation,
Editing, Design and Layout: Pet Secretarial Services | Communication Consultant: Jeff
Trotman
2

AGRIVYBZ
Continued from page
1…

EDITOR’S NOTE: Greene is satisfied

that the conclusion of
the workshop, in
acknowledgement of
This issue of Agrivybz comes at time when worldwide concern is being the need to strengthen
expressed about impending shortages of food staples such as rice, corn and wheat and the farmers organizations
negative impact that could arise, not only on food security in the developing world but also on inclusive of capacity
spiraling food prices.
building, along
In considering all the hysteria surrounding this so called food crisis, people in St. Vincent and with some meaningful
the Grenadines and the wider Caribbean must be made aware of the confusion that has arisen in proposals, are in
the management of food production and distribution.
keeping with the
For many years, changes in our eating habits have taken us away from our traditional food base, goals of CaFAN. He
as we developed preferences for cheap unhealthy foods that have been dumped on our societies said that CaFAN is a
from the more developed, industrialized countries. network of essentially
As a result of our shift in dietary tastes (preferences) and changes in our lifestyle, our citizens
grass root farmers’
became increasingly prone to chronic non communicable diseases to the extent that 60% of our organizations and
annual deaths are from these diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes CaFAN emphasizes
(sugar) and cancer.
the point that, “in
Additionally, an unwarranted high number of our citizens, particularly children and young the final analysis, it
people, suffer from obesity. Furthermore, diabetes is taking its toll with respect to increasing is the farmers who
numbers of people who have had their limbs amputated. have to produce the
Private Citizens, tax payers and our governments are paying the cost of our health pipeline of
commodities, and
hospitals, clinics and pharmacies as a direct result of these chronic non communicable diseases. therefore, we do not
Foreign food producers have been able to influence our politicians to move away from our want anyone to
traditional food base such as root crops, local fruits and vegetables, banana and coconut oil, just
represent us. We are
to name a few, to increase our dependence on flour, corn and wheat based food products.
representing
It is well known, even more so today, that our traditional local food base can be effective in ourselves… and we
fighting and arresting the chronic non communicable diseases that afflict our Caribbean insist that certain
populations.
measures must be
CaFAN members must move to consolidate local production, with emphasis on linking taken to ensure that
agriculture to health, nutrition and all other food sectors, including tourism and the hospitality farmers are
industries.
empowered.”
We must lead the way in reorienting our populations towards the health value of local foods. We
must 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.
3 AGRIVYBZ

C
Caar
riib
bbbe
eaan
nKKiic
ckk--O
Offf
fWWo
orrk
kssh
hoop
p
Market-based risk management instruments are
The EU-funded “All ACP Agricultural Commodities
•
developed and their usage increased
Program” has its roots in the EU Action Plan on Agricultural • Effective use is made of the expertise,
Commodities, Dependence and Poverty (COM (2004) 89), the complementarities and synergies of program partners
EU-Africa Partnership for Cotton Sector Development (COM in the area of agricultural commodities to the benefit of
(2004) 87) and various ACP initiatives related to stakeholders.
agricultural commodities during the Cotonou and Doha
negotiations. As such, it recognizes fully the link between While all ACP countries are eligible to program support,
the production and sale of commodities and poverty priority beneficiaries are defined as countries that are
reduction. “highly dependent on a small number of agricultural products
The overall objective of the program is to improve incomes and whose dependence affects a large number of poor people”.
and livelihoods for ACP producers of traditional and other
The Caribbean Kick-Off Workshop (KOW) held April 1-3,
agricultural commodities, and to reduce income
2008 was part of the regional consultations held throughout
vulnerability at both producer and macro levels. The
the ACP under the “All ACP Agricultural Commodities
specific objective is to build the capacity of stakeholders all
Program” to define, in a participatory manner, the priority
along the commodity value chain to conceive and
needs of ACP countries that can be addressed by partner
implement sustainable commodity strategies. These will
international organizations under the Program mandate.
characteristically enhance farmers’ productivity and
competitiveness, increase returns to labor, reduce income The regional kick-off Workshops (KOW) constitute an
fluctuations, open up new market opportunities, including important program activity in providing an opportunity for
diversification, and facilitate recourse to market-based risk enlisting the active participation of stakeholders from the
management instruments. region in identifying and analyzing issues and developing
The Program is expected to achieve four concrete results: appropriate responses.

• Commodity Chain Stakeholders in ACP Expected workshop outputs include:

countries/regions have the capacity to develop, adapt
and implement effective and sustainable commodity
strategies
• Strategic priorities are effectively implemented –
organizational capabilities of National Commodity
Chain Stakeholders (NCCS) and production factors and
support services are improved
• A clear understanding by stakeholders of the
program processes, its implementation mechanisms,
services on offer, and program scope.
• Meaningful inputs from workshop participants to
guide drafting of the work plans of the
implementation agencies – i.e. the five partner
international organizations. The setting up of
national/regional stakeholder teams to interact with
the Coordination Unit and the International
Organizations in coordinating and managing the
progress of implementation of Program activities in
synergy with other development activities as
appropriate.
4
AGRIVYBZ
CaFAN and CARDI
To sign Memorandum of Understanding
The Caribbean Research and
Development Institute (CARDI) and
the Caribbean Farmers’ Network
(CaFaN) have agreed in principle to
sign a Memorandum of
Understanding.
CARDI, which has its headquarters
in Trinidad and Tobago and
representatives in most Caricom
countries, is mandated to provide for
the agricultural research and
development needs of the Caribbean
Community.
CaFAN is made up of agricultural
organizations from CARICOM
countries. Its Secretariat is the St.
Vincent based Eastern Caribbean
Agriculture and Development
Organization (ECTAD).
CaFAN’s mission is to enhance the
well being and competitiveness of
Caribbean farmers through
sustainable development of the
agricultural and rural sectors, thus
contributing to the repositioning of
Caribbean economies. Its goal is to
improve the quality of life for
farmers, especially small farm
families throughout the Caribbean.
Bearing in mind their common
interests with respect to increasing
(L-R) Jethro Greene (ECTAD) | Pathleen Titus
(CARDI
Baptiste (CARDI field Officer) | Dr.
(CARDI market expert, Trinidad)
farm productivity and income as
well as improving the overall welfare
of farmers through the strengthening
of individual and organizational
capacity, the two entities have
recorded their understanding under
four articles, to be signed by the
Executive Director of CARDI and the
Chairperson of CaFAN’s Executive
Committee.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Memorandum of
Understanding is to establish a
framework for collaboration between
CARDI and CaFAN. Under
ARTICLE 1
it is acknowledged that CARDI is the
lead Agricultural Research and
Development Organization in the
Caribbean - established in 1975 to
serve the agricultural research and
development needs of CARICOM
Member States - and that CARDI’s
recently revised mission statement,
‘Enhancing the socioeconomic well-
being of Caribbean people through
research that improves the
competitiveness and sustainability of
regional agriculture’ has three
essential commonalities with the
CaFAN mission - ‘wellbeing’,
‘competitiveness’ and the ‘Caribbean
people/farmers’.
Additionally, the recent CTA/IICA
co-funded CARDI 2008-2010 strategic
planning workshop on ‘Development
of Strategic Linkages’ recognized that
Representative. St. Vincent)
it is necessary for CARDI to ‘build
and maintain
relationships/partnerships with
donors, stakeholders, other R&D
institutions, private sector and other
institutions.
In this regard CARDI has identified
some areas for collaborative
initiatives such as: (a) Commodity
development (including livestock,
conventional & organic crop
production systems) (b) Information
systems and services (c) Project
development.
ARTICLE II
Under Article II, CARDI and CaFAN
will establish a CaFAN/CARDI
collaborative Network in which
CARDI is recognized as an
agreed/principal executing arm of
selected CaFAN initiatives. In this
regard it is mutually understood and
agreed that CARDI will provide
technical support to CaFAN in the
following areas: (a) Strategic
planning, project development and
network strengthening (b) Rural
community/social surveys; (c)
Market research (d) Improved
commodity production and post-
harvest systems (e) Business
development (f) Access to technology
information. Additionally, CaFAN
will: (e) Collaborate with CARDI in
specified CARDI initiatives to
validate and transfer its technology
products and services (f) Collaborate
with CARDI in specified CARDI
initiatives to assemble
social/scientific data.
| Lauren
Don Iton
5 AGRIVYBZ
INTRODUCING A HOLISTIC LIFE
IMPROVEMENT AND GROUP APPROACH
IMPROVE THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF RURAL WOMEN IN
THE DISTRICT OF COMMEWIJNE
The SAV is a registered civil society
organization that was officially
established on the 29th of May 1996
with the mission to promote
agriculture business among rural
women in Commewijne through
training and coaching, rent machines
and equipment, sell inputs and plant
materials, and assist with the
marketing of produce. It started to
work with rural women in a small
house located at the Weg naar
Peperpot (road to Peperpot).
HISTORY
Twenty years before the official
establishment of SAV its current
members were the victims of
unemployment when in 1978
Suriname’s only sugar cane
plantation and sugar factory in
Marienburg (Commewijne) closed
down and all the labourers lost their
jobs. Several men were able to find a
new job but the majority stayed and
started farming to feed their families.
The families started to cultivate
vegetables, fruit, cut flowers and root
crops. Agriculture became their
major or secondary income source.
The women became mostly involved
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.
TO
in vegetable production and
sometimes shared activities with
their husbands or both worked
together to make a living from
agriculture. The land became over-
exploited and unsound use of
pesticides and other chemicals was
forced upon the poor farmers by the
urgency of immediate survival. Cows
and other cattle were dying because
chemicals polluted the water
irrigation system that was used by
the cattle for drinking. There were
cases of malnutrition among infants.
TRAININGS
With donor funds women were
trained to use chemicals properly.
They learned how to feed their
children nutritious food. Capacity
building seminars and workshops
were held for them in various types
of training related to agriculture and
they developed skills in food
processing
Additionally, SAV began translating
the prescription on the labels of
bottled pesticides and other
chemicals from English into Dutch
and taught the women how to use
the chemicals.
SAV also processes food. These
include: peanut butter and hot
peanut sauce, grated pomtayer (tayer
is a big yellow root), banana chips,
cassava chips, soy bean sauce,
cooked foods and sweets, and fruit
juices. Women sell their agricultural
produce along main roads or in front
of their homes. SAV regularly
organizes agricultural fairs to
stimulate farmers to improve the
quality and number of their produce.
In the meantime, the number of SAV
members has been increasing. The
farmers also started a market at the
east-west road in Tamanredjo.
In 1999 SAV received funding to
build a proper market and
processing factory. At the compound,
which SAV requested and received
from the government the following
activities had taken place:
• Building of a new marketplace
• Construction of a processing
facility
• Storage facility for the tractor
rotavator and other agri-
equipment
• SAV moved to the new facilities
at the Pandit Tilakhdariweg nr 9
in Tamanredjo from where it
continues its services to date.
Globalization imposes new
challenges for farmers as Good
Agricultural Practices (GAP) are
conditional to protect the safety of
people and the environment.
Preparations are being made to teach
farmers Global GAP rules and certify
them and their farm processing
facilities.
6

AGRIVYBZ
ECTAD – bridging the generation gap

Chief Coordinator of ECTAD, Jethro Greene is

challenging young Vincentians to eat more locally
produced food and to become appreciative of the
contribution of local farmers to the nation’s food security.

Greene has been intensifying his message as ECTAD

progresses in its nine month pilot project, “Linking
Agriculture to Health and Nutrition” in collaboration with
the Ministry of Agriculture and the Nutrition Unit of the
Ministry of Health and the Environment.

Following the launching exercise and planning seminar to

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

According to Mr. Greene, most Vincentian young people

don’t like to eat the fruits that are produced in the country -
hence the reason for inviting school children to the
“Linking Agriculture to Health and Nutrition” workshops.
“The thing is,” he stressed at the Greggs workshop, “the
food that we take for granted, and our farmers have been
growing for years, are the kind of foods that can make our
population 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 at
even comparing the imported apple – you don’t know
where they come from because recently in the United
States you see a lot of people suffering from health
problems because the tomato grown there was
contaminated. We know that when we grow our foods in
St. Vincent and we know if we handle it, most of our fruits
are clean.”

“So when you look at the fruits that are imported that our
people have grown accustomed to, we realize that there is
one thing that we have to do and even the government and
all those people in key areas are recognizing it now, is that
we have to go back to the land and we have to go back to
respecting our farmers. And that is why, we are going
throughout the length and breadth of this country with
these workshops to try to make our people realize how
important farming is and to try to get our young people to
start to understand how important it is that they utilize the
fruits and vegetables that we have in this country.
7
AGRIVYBZ

Pointing to the increasing impact of chronic non communicable diseases such

as cancer, diabetes (sugar), obesity and hypertension (pressure) on the society,
the ECTAD Chief Coordinator said healthy eating could prevent “those kinds
of diseases … and most of the time, the fruits and vegetables that we take for
granted 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 the
Ministry of Agriculture ….

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

He is confident that the combination should put the country in a position to be

better able to produce healthier citizens and to be able to guide and advise the
nation’s young people as well as the older folks about the importance of
supporting their own farmers and the health benefits that would bring to the
society.

He said ECTAD is not only committed by words – it is showing its

commitment by action. “That is why at the end of every workshop we
encourage participants to have a small backyard garden by giving them a few
samples of seeds … to grow in the backyard. Even if it means a banana box
filled with sand, or a few plastic containers filled with sand, we want that green
throughout every area. We want it in the town. We want it in the country. And
these people from the country-side, who have been feeding the population of
St. 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 to
continue to do this so that we can deal with the so-called food crisis that they’re
talking about.

“We don’t need to wait until the politicians come and tell us there is a food
crisis. We only have food crisis because a large percentage of our young people
don’t 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 organization
is going to do, begin the process – of going back to the land and going back to
our local foods.”
 8
AGRIVYBZ
Secretary General of the OAS,
GARD Centre Tours the Gilbert Agricultural
presents: and Rural Development Center

Culinary specialist, Dr. Carol A. Gilkes,
from Purdue University, recently visited
Antigua to consult on enhancing
culinary tourism in Antigua and
Barbuda. Her trip was sponsored by the
non-government organization the
Gilbert Agricultural and Rural
Development Center (GARD Center) in
collaboration with the Ministry of
Agriculture and the Organization of
American States (OAS).
Stakeholders, including local hotel chefs,
farmers, agricultural extension officers,
and others related to the hospitality
sector, participated in week long
activities, which included visits by Dr.
Gilkes to hotel kitchens, farms and
community elders, who shared
information on traditional local dishes
for Dr. Gilkes to get an understanding of
the local cultural perspective of
Antiguan foods.
On July 1st, H.E. Jose Miguel agriculture as a competitive partner
with tourism, strengthening
Insulza, Secretary General of the
producers’ skills in production
OAS, praised the Gilbert
planning, preparing their farms to
Agricultural and Rural Development
become certified in Good
Center (GARD Center) for its
Agricultural Practices and adding
progressive work in youth
value with farm tourism.
development and with agricultural
producers. The GARD Center While visiting the GARD Center, a
recently joined the Partnership in recognition ceremony was held, and
Opportunities for Employment H.E. Secretary General Insulza, along
through Technology in the Americas with Linda Eddleman (Executive
(POETA’s) youth development Director of the Trust for the
project that is sponsored by the Americas), OAS representative of
TRUST for the Americas. Antigua and Barbuda Ms. Cecily
Norris, and Antigua’s Permanent
The POETA project uses adaptive
Representative to the OAS H.E.
technologies, such as office related
Deborah-Mae Lovell, toured the
software Word, Excel, and
GARD Center to see the project in
PowerPoint, to empower youth. ICT
action. They spoke with students and
training is complemented by
graduates to get feedback about the
curricula such as civic education, job
program.
readiness, and micro-enterprise
development. In addition the Since the project began in March
Center, as a non-government 2008, GARD Center has graduated 45
organization has formed a unique students, at which H.E. Insulza
partnership with the OAS and the expressed his gratitude. At the
Ministry of Agriculture in an conclusion of the ceremony gifts
agricultural, agri-tourism linkage were exchanged between the OAS
project over the past five years. This and the GARD Center, and H.E.
project fostered and promoted Insulza stated he looked forward to
returning to the Center.

Dr. Gilkes also conducted sessions with

hospitality students, under the guidance
of Ms. Colleen Simpson, Chef Instructor
at the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality
Institute, about current trends in
culinary tourism.

Dr Gilkes also engaged in

deconstructing and reconstructing
traditional local recipes to upscale them
for tourist appreciation.

Standing L-R: Mr. Paul Spencer, Advisor to the Secretary General, OAS; Michael Rodrigues, USPC Volunteer, GARD Center; Ms.
Linda Eddleman, Executive Director, Trust for the Americas; Mrs. Roberta Williams, Executive Director GARD Center; H.E. Jose
Miguel Insulza, Secretary General, Organisation of the America States; Ms. Cecily Norris, Director, Organization of the America
States, Antigua; Ms. Asha Williams, Program Manager, POETA Youth Coordinator, Trust for the Americas. Seated L-R: H.E.
Deborah-Mae Lovell, Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ms. Isabelle Bruney, Student GARD Center
9
ACTION ON PRAEDIAL LARCENY
IN DOMINICA
The scourge of praedial
larceny has the potential to
drive farmers out of business
and I am ready to give up. This
is the feeling one farmer
expressed at a meeting called
by the Minister of Agriculture,
Hon Matthew Walter, to get a
consensus on urgent need to
address Praedial Larceny in
Dominica.
The Minister, in an earlier
contribution testified of raising
goats which he did not have the
heart to kill; nonetheless he
regularly purchased goat meat.
Only when advised that his
stock had reached below ten that
he found he was purchasing his
own goats. He immediately
ceased raising them.
At a follow-up meeting, farmers
and representatives of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Legal
Affairs, Bureau of Standards,
Hucksters Association, DEXIA,
Police Service, Youth in
Agriculture and Fisheries
Division sought to achieve an
immediate action.
The meeting recognized that
Praedial Larceny was both a
land and sea based activity.
Measurers emerged at the
meeting included:-
Review of current
Legislation.
Review Legislation of
some territories e.g.
Trinidad and Tobago
etc.
AGRIVYBZ
Farm
Tourism
“A new
Praedial Larceny Squad
beginning
may need to be formed.
in Antigua
Corporal punishments and
(reintroduced). Barbuda”
Setting up of special A team of four Extension Officers
Praedial Larceny Courts. and Agricultural Producers had an
opportunity to travel to Jamaica to
Sensitization of police visit different types of farm tourism
and customs officials. sites. This activity is the result of an
agricultural, agri- tourism project
Sensitization of hotels being carried out by the Gilbert
and supermarkets Agricultural and Rural
Development Center, a non-profit
Possible monitoring the NGO, operating under the auspices
movements of fishing of the Methodist Church in the
vessels. Caribbean and the Americas and
specializing in enterprise training in
Closer networking Antigua and Barbuda.
among the agencies
which have the capacity This three year project has been
carried out in collaboration with the
to impact on curbing the
Ministry of Agriculture and the
problem.
Organization of American States.
One of the objectives of this project
Strengthening the
is to add value to the tourism
procedure for issuing of
product by developing farm tours
farmers and traders and upgrading the farm experience
licenses for commercial and products to a level consistent
trading. with best practices.
A larger group meeting or As part of the agri-tourism project,
consultation which will review visitation were made to farms to
and further develop the above is observe the operations of different
expected within two months. agri-tourism ventures which is
incorporated, adding attractions such
The National economic loss has as “pick it yourself,” petting zoos,
not been determined, but one delis, bakeries, tractor-trailer rides all
large farmer lamented that his of which added value to these farms
annual losses were in excess of which produced crops of apples,
EC$100,000.00. This is one peaches and pumpkins.
matter that requires urgent
actions. A number of functioning farms in
Antigua and Barbuda are being
monitored in preparation for
operating farm tours and trading
with participating hotels and
restaurants.
10

AGRIVYBZ
Grass root farmers achieving success in St. Lucia

A member of the CaFAN network, the Belle Vieux Farmers guests prefer the local vegetables more than the imported
ones.
Cooperative along with three other farmers cooperatives has
embarked on a successful initiative of linking agriculture to
Mr. Greene said 200 farmers are directly involved in the
tourism in St. Lucia. Although the project is funded by
project, which indirectly encompasses thousands of farmers.
Oxfam through the Windward Islands Farmers Association
He added that other people have been benefiting from the
(WINFA), the Belle Vieux Farmers Cooperative, which is a
program, which is a model project in St. Lucia. “It is
core member of CAFAN, is the managing institution for the
something that I’m proud to be an architect of,” Greene said,
project.
adding that the farmers have now branded their produce,
‘Farm Fresh St. Lucia’, which is now in the supermarkets,
A major guiding influence has been ECTAD in terms of
giving the producers in this enterprise a distinct brand.
guiding the management and production implementation of
the project, which is aimed at strengthening the capacity of
Part of the project is to help build advocacy skills in the
farmers’ organizations to produce high quality commodities
farmers’ organization and that has been done. So, the farmers
for the tourism market in St. Lucia. This capacity building is
are now better able to lobby government better. But, most of
done through workshops and practical training sessions.
all, the project has been so successful in St. Lucia that we’ve
There is a revolving fund – called a buffer fund - which
found a situation in which you have had a 500% increase in
allows farmers to obtain money quickly when they sell their
production of some commodities – tomatoes, cabbage, carrots
produce.
and lettuce - since the project started. They are all purchased
by the hotels.
There is also an input revolving fund, which allows farmers
to readily obtain fertilizers and necessary commodities to
The ECTAD Chief Coordinator said the project has been so
produce on a continuous basis.
successful that farmers’ organizations, to which governments
had been indifferent, are now being recognized by
Chief Coordinator of ECTAD, the St. Vincent based
government by placing representatives from these
Secretariat of CaFAN, Jethro Greene, has been involved in the
organizations on various Boards of Directors and are now
project from its inception. He said the project can be
being consulted by the government on agricultural issues.
measured as being successful because the hotel sector is
He said the supermarkets want to create special space for the
saying that since the hotels have been buying locally they
‘Farm Fresh St. Lucia’ branded produce.
have been saving money “because it is cheaper for them to
buy high quality produce”. He said, additionally, the hotel

CaFAN to push regional governments for more

CARDI funding

The Eastern Caribbean Agriculture Development Research Institute (CARDI) for more research and
development projects.
Organization (ECTAD) is calling on regional governments to
provide increased funding to the Caribbean Agriculture
In making the call, Jethro Greene, Chief Coordinator of According to Greene, the region’s agricultural researchers
ECTAD said: “Because of the pending food crisis and the need to put greater emphasis on more environmentally
rising fuel cost and the high cost of production, we need to friendly agriculture – “a more sustainable system, rather
get our main research organization, CARDI, more engaged than a system that is dependent on fertilizers and chemicals
in research as to how to reduce production costs, and how imported from outside”.
to reduce input costs.”
He said companion planting had been long established in
The head of the St. Vincent based ECTAD, which is the St. Vincent and the Grenadines “but people moved away
Secretariat for the Caribbean Farmers’ Network (CaFAN) from traditional agriculture because of fast commercial
said: “We need to look seriously at more inter cropping - agriculture, which has proven to be environmentally
multiple cropping - where instead of depending on external unfriendly. Less emphasis was placed on the real thing
fertilizer and external inputs, we look more at companion that is sustainable, and now we are more dependent on
planting, and how we can get different types of crops to external supplies. It was all a plot, and now we got to go
complement one another.” back to the old school.”
11

AGRIVYBZ

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Presentation by Mr. Jethro Greene to Pan Commonwealth Civil Society Consultation on the Special Theme of the 2008
Commonwealth 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 be
addressed 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.
CaFAN’s major focus is to foster
linkages, training and information
sharing amongst Caribbean farmers
so 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, raising
awareness 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.
CaFAN’s approach to
the Current Situation
of food Crisis and high
Cost of Foods
CaFAN members have always been
in the forefront of lobbying, our
governments, government officials,
Private and NGO Sectors to put
agriculture on the top priority of
development issues.
CaFAN has been advocating over
the last decade for the Caribbean to
have a food security plan based on
the local foods grown throughout
the Caribbean, starting at the
national level and linking in at a
network regional level. It takes a
crisis in food for our governments to
start to pay attention to us. ‘As they
say better late than never’.
We in CaFAN are on the frontline of
ensuring that we do not miss this
opportunity to stabilize our
agriculture and our food security.
12
AGRIVYBZ
In April 2008 CaFAN members
advanced proposals to an all
Agriculture Commodity
Program(ACP) consultative workshop
in Jamaica on several crop production
and value chain action in root crops,
vegetables and fruits as part of an
overall regional agriculture program.
This approach can lead to greater food
security, increase inter regional trade,
greater export earnings for farmers
and linkage to nutrition, health and
the agro processing sector.
Jethro Greene
Our proposal targets several root
crops such as sweet potatoes, eddoes,
yams and cassava as base core crops.
We target key foods such as pumpkin,
tomatoes, sweet pepper and bananas
as key security foods. (CaFAN is
beginning the promotion - A Banana a
Day Keeps the Doctor Away – and
promoting the use of local fruits and
vegetables thus providing linkages of
our agriculture to other sectors).
CaFAN Members
in Action
In St Lucia – Bellevue Farmers
Cooperative and its network – the St
Lucia Association of Farmers
Cooperative are involved in a project
funded by (OXFAM), managed
through WINFA with technical
support from ECTAD St. Vincent &
the Grenadines. This project aims at
getting local hotels to purchase more
local produce. Ongoing for 2 years, it
is a successful case of cooperation
between government and traditional
private sector hotels and farmers’
organization,
In St Vincent & the Grenadines
ECTAD is involved in a project with
the Ministries of Health and
Agriculture with support from the
leadership of the local Chamber of
Industry and Commerce in linking
agriculture to health and nutrition.
This project has seen major turn out at
workshops and increased interest in
backyard gardening and utilizing of
local fruits and vegetables. Our pilot
project targets farmers and
schoolchildren in joint workshops to
stimulate awareness and interest on
subject areas.
CaFAN is making good use of
CARDI program in St Vincent & the
Grenadines and Jamaica working
with farmers to produce select crops
such as sweet potatoes and other root
crops on a sustainable basis for both
the local consumption and inter-
regional / export market. A Sweet
Potato Production Planning and
Marketing pilot project was launched
by ECTAD in St Vincent with support
from CARDI and the Ministry of
Agriculture.
Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS)
and Barbados Agriculture Society
(BAS) have been involved in (Buy
and Eat local) campaigns centered on
local food production. In Jamaica,
special emphasis is targeting young
people in farming agriculture as a
business.
In the case of Guyana Rice Producer
Association (GRPA), there has been
increased production to meet
demands. In the process, they are
empowering their farmers.
Key Constrains that we must
address include increased cost of
agricultural input such as fertilizers
and pesticides due to increased oil
prices, the increased cost of
marketing, ranging from packaging
material to increased cost of
transportation and increased cost of
labor. The increased potential
threat from large businesses to
manipulate the food market and to
control large tracks of lands that
could possibly lead to the
displacement of our traditional
small farmers is also a key
constraint.
Opportunities
While there are several challenges,
we in CaFAN recognize the
enormous opportunities presented
to Caribbean farmers. These
include the potential of renewable
energy, formulation of programs
and strategies for more investment,
working with Government to create
the right policy environment for
agriculture, strengthening the
management and technical capacity
of farmers’ organizations,
formulating creative programs and
strategies to get more investment,
linking agriculture to tourism, agro-
processing, health and nutrition and
getting our people to produce and
eat healthy local foods that can fight
non-communicable diseases (NCD).
Support Research and
Development
CaFAN sees this as an opportunity
for us to work with and challenge
our scientists, government
institutions, universities, colleges
and private sector to seriously
coordinate efforts in renewable and
alternative energy in a more local
and consumer friendly society.
It is our firm belief that through the
areas we have outlined for
implementation and action. CaFAN
will work together with our
partners, with our governments and
private sector to meet the challenges
that are associated with rising food
and energy prices. We believe that
working together will offer the
Caribbean a great opportunity to
stabilize it agriculture system for
food security on a more long-term
sustainable basis.
13
Denbigh agricultural & industrial
show 2008 Jamaica
History of Denbigh Agricultural & Industrial Show
The Denbigh Agricultural and
Industrial Show is a hallmark event
that has been embedded in the
unique culture and the broad fabrics
of the Jamaican people from as early
as 1953 to the present.
Situated on twenty nine hectares of
picturesque lands at May Pen,
Clarendon, the Denbigh Show comes
to life for three days of pulsating
activities offering wholesome
entertainment to over sixty thousand
patrons that have been attending the
event on an annual basis.
Spirits have been lifted and
enthusiasm built for the
unforgettable experience of the grand
Exposition that has been renowned
for promoting the farmers livelihood,
i.e. the finest quality agricultural
produce from varied commodity
groups, its value added products,
industrial and technological
equipment from main stakeholders
affiliated within the agricultural
sector.
As is traditionally expected, each day
of the show is especially dedicated to
a particular Government Official
who addresses the audience or
patrons.
Many of these invited guests who
have made valid contributions to the
Show’s experience include: Governor
of Puerto Rico in 1955, the former
Governor Generals – Sir Clifford
Campbell, Sir Florizel Glasspole, Sir
Howard Cooke and the present
Governor General Professor Sir
Kenneth Hall.
Heads of Governments who also
attended the show were Sir
Alexander Bustamante, Rt. Hon.
Norman Manley, Rt. Hon. Hugh
Shearer, Sir Donald Sangster, Rt.
Hon. Michael Manley, Rt. Hon.
Edward Seaga, The Most. Hon. P.J
Patterson and Most Hon. Portia
Simpson Miller have all supported
and assisted in the promotion of this
historical event.
Special attention has consistently
been placed on the Champion
Farmer and Young Champion
Farmer Competitions that showcase
farmers who have excelled in cutting
edged farm practices.
“It will be great Denbigh 2008”
This year, the Denbigh
Agricultural and Industrial Show,
which will be held on August 1st
to 3rd 2008 is organized in
collaboration with the Ministry of
Agriculture during a period
where there are serious and
fundamental threats to the
nation’s food security.
Self-sufficiency is indeed the vision
within the Society thus the theme,
“Grow what we Eat, and Eat what
we grow” is demonstrative of the
way forward to ensure survival
amidst the present challenges. Booth
holders will therefore showcase the
unique and creative manner in which
quality agricultural produce and
value added items can be packaged
and showcased for the local and
international market with a focus on
AGRIVYBZ
improving the health and wellness of
the Society.
Denbigh 2008 will highlight new
technologies and its effective impact
in improving the levels of
productivity within the agricultural
sector. In addition we will focus on
varied aspects of mechanized
farming from Delta Supplies, the
application of tractor service,
improved communication services
by Digicel and farm and garden
supplies through the Jamaica Broilers
Group.
An alliance has also been forged with
the Jamaica Tourist Board to
demonstrate the tremendous markets
that can be gleaned in using local
products within the tourism sector.
A Farmers Market will provide an
opportunity for farmers to market
their produce on the three days of the
show. A very special feature this
year will be the implementation of
the long anticipated Emancipation
Village offering historical data and
artifacts of predecessors in
agriculture.
In terms of nightly entertainment the
expected highlights are:
• Farmers Parade & Farm
Queen Coronation Show
• Rising Stars Finalists and
Karaoke – Saturday
• Jamaica Broilers 50 Fest
Gospel Explosion –
Sunday
 14
AGRIVYBZ
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 56th
Staging of the Denbigh Agricultural Show.

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

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

2008 CONTESTANTS

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, Morgan’s Harbor Hotel. Missing- Ms. St. Thomas and Manchester Farm Queens.
15

AGRIVYBZ
CAFAN UPCOMING
ACTIVITIES
CaFAN Objectives
2008-2009
The overall objective of the CaFAN work programme for
• Contribute to the period 2008 to 2009 is to contribute to enhancing the
enhance the competitiveness of Caribbean farmers and improving the
quality of life of farmers’ families.
marketing and
service delivery CaFAN will focus on a number of activities including:
capacities of • Conduct a campaign to mobilise new members
Caribbean farmers’ and establish national focal points
associations; • Institutionalize CaFAN
• Develop a CaFAN members and stakeholders
database
• Conduct a workshop on ‘Agricultural Trade
• Increase Facilitation’
communication and • Conduct a workshop on ‘Community-based
exchange of ideas, Disaster Management’
• Conduct a workshop on ‘Farmers’ Organizations
experiences, and Youth Involvement in the Caribbean
resources Agriculture’
information and • Produce and disseminate its Newsletter
(Agrivybz)
technologies between • Upgrade its Website
and among farmers’ • Update and disseminate its Members and
organizations; Stakeholders Directory
• Produce and disseminate fact sheets

• Raise awareness, CaFAN’s major focus is to link Caribbean farmers so that

advocate and they are in a better position to face key challenges, with a
view of coming up with feasible proposals for solutions at
collectively influence the national and regional levels. The Network has
decisions on regional identified several programme areas which include
issues affecting enhancing the capacities of farmers’ associations to
represent their members, raise awareness and influence
regional agriculture; decisions on issues affecting farmers, mobilise resources on
behalf of members, and facilitate the increase in
communication between and among the network members.
• Mobilise resources Membership of CaFAN is open to farmers’ associations in
for and on behalf of countries of the Caribbean region. To date, the following
Network members. countries have participated in activities of CaFAN:
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica,
Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts/Nevis; St Lucia, St
Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and
Suriname.
16

Caribbean Farmers Network

C/o Eastern Caribbean Trading Agriculture
and Development Organization(ECTAD)

P.O. Box 827, Beachmont

Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
cafancaribbean@gmail.com or ectadsvg@yahoo.com
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