IICA BARBADOS COURIER

Issue # 2

IICA Barbados COURIER

2nd Edition featuring IICA Barbados Youth Farm Programme

A PUBLICATION OF THE IICA OFFICE IN BARBADOS

August 2012
IN THIS ISSUE APR TO AUG

Article

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Walking the Talk

by Carol Thomas

Walking the Talk IICA Youth Farm Programme Empowering Youth through Agriculture Barbados Agri-news Caribbean Agritourism Blog

We are happy to present the second edition of The IICA Barbados Courier which highlights the most significant initiatives in Barbados agricultural sector and projects in progress by the local IICA team. The theme for this edition is walking the talk which describes how our local technicians and our partners are translating values into action and tackling some of the issues for agricultural development. Agriculture has been identified as a key sector for transforming Barbados economy. In the face of diminishing foreign exchange earnings from tourism, coupled with a spiraling food import bill, stakeholders in public and private enterprise are now recognizing just how important sustainable agriculture is for food security. Putting the new vision for agriculture into action will take time and tremendous effort. However a transformation is happening. Reports from the Ministry of Agriculture show that local farmers have increased vegetable production compared to previous years. There is also a national drive to increase innovation and technology in agriculture. IICA is pleased to be a part of this movement towards a renewed agriculture sector.

Caribbean Plant Health Directors Forum 6 Climate Change Corner 6 IICA FonTC Small Ruminant Commercialization Project 7

Carol Thomas gives tips to Brandon Cox

We hope you enjoy reading this edition!

IICA BARBADOS COURIER | Issue # 2

Creativity. Energy. Youth in Agriculture

by Roxanne Waithe

The Youth Farm Programme was developed because not many of our young Barbadian students of agriculture are pursuing this field as a career when they leave secondary school. We need to impress upon school leavers the notion that Agriculture Science is not just another subject that they take to get a qualification from the Caribbean Examinations Council ..it is a moneymaking business. Food is ALWAYS in demand. The Youth Farm is an eight week intensive training programme in crop and animal farming with a focus on essential farming knowledge, as well as the development of farm management and business management skills. The programme targeted young people between the ages of 15 to 18 years specifically past and present agriculture science students, new or beginner farmers who want to start a business in food production, and young experienced farmers who are interested in gaining certification in the sector.

IICA Barbados partnered with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council to execute this pilot project. We also received invaluable support from the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development who did the necessary outreach to gain participation from the schools. For the 2012 pilot training we enrolled 15 candidates from three different secondary schools. The program provided hands-on experience in working on a farm combined with workshops designed to give the participants the essential skills they need to practice sustainable farm management. They learned from agricultural experts, local mentor farmers and by working with each other they learned from their peers. The objective was that by the end of the training the candidates would have gained knowledge and skills needed to produce food

using low cost technologies and to earn an income after leaving school. The core training was conducted at the Grantley Adams Secondary School which has an established working farm. IICA organized farm visits for practical demonstrations (farm labs). Each participant also had the opportunity to work on a farm for two weeks depending on their area of focus/interest as follows:
SUSTAINABLE FARMING JOHN HUNTE'S ORGANIC FARM ANIMAL HUSBANDRY GREENLAND LIVESTOCK RESEARCH STATION ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE NATURE CARE GREENHOUSE

YOUNG SUSTAINABLE FARMERS OUR CHAMPIONS!

Jabbary, Joshua Murray & Joshua Deshong erecting greenhouse with help from technical team

Four students including one female selected sustainable farming as their area of specialization in the Youth Farm Programme. This group excelled during their tenure at John Huntes Organic Farm located in Bawdens, St. Andrew where they learned land preparation and planning, the essentials or organic cultivation, and how to run an irrigation system using surface water. The following week they worked at Grantley Adams School farm where they built a 20ft x 20ft greenhouse from the ground up. These four students, under the guidance of our technical officer Damien Hinds and Colin Wiltshire from the Ministry of Agriculture, built and prepared the greenhouse for planting in a matter of 2 days! This team won the hearts of farmers, technical officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, teachers, and IICA with their boundless energy and enthusiasm.

John Hunte with Adrianna, Jabbary & Joshua drawing a crop plan

IICA BARBADOS COURIER | Issue # 2

Young Livestock Farmers Aplenty

There is no doubt that livestock farming has a future in Barbados because this option was the most heavily prescribed elective for the youth farm programme. A total of nine students chose animal husbandry and the opportunity to work at the Greenland Livestock Research Station also located in Bawdens, St. Andrew. These students, some of who have livestock of their own, worked with small ruminants specifically goats and the Barbados black belly sheep. Their learning included daily care and maintenance of the animals, proper feeding and record keeping techniques. The young livestock farmers worked hard baling hay, cleaning pens, worming goats and got into the retail side of the business helping to prepare the animals for sale and slaughter. Some of the young farmers expressed an interest in going into small scale production of layers and rabbits. For the next cohort IICA plans to ensure that they have this exposure.
Top right: Goat hoofs to clip

Left: Jamal and his kids

Top left: Taking a break

On tour Kendal farm

TVET Council sweetens the experience with NVQ certification

One of the main issues discussed during the planning stages of the Youth Farm Programme was that of recognition and certification for our young participants. At the end of the day it was important for us at IICA to know that the students walked away with more than just an unforgettable experience. The Barbados TVET Council made certification accessible for the student participants by involving their assessors for the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Amenity Horticulture Level I. This qualification is for farm workers, landscapers and grounds men, golf course attendants, greenhouse employees and plant shop assistants. Of the fifteen students who enrolled in the programme, twelve successfully met the national occupational standards for this certification through performance based assessments. Three students, including the two female students who selected ornamental horticulture as their area of specialization, did not complete the Youth Farm Programme. The other twelve students were assessed in areas that covered best practice in planting and maintaining plants, occupational health and safety, agricultural equipment maintenance and developing effective working relationships. These twelve students will become the first students within the Barbados secondary school system to be awarded a National Vocational Qualification in Amenity Horticulture Level I.
Backyard Garden Practical Lesson

The liaison officer from the TVET Council, Paul Puckerin, worked closely with IICAs technical team to execute the assessments. He revealed that according to their research, many locally employed persons do not possess attitudes that are up to standard. For this reason TVET invested in the Youth Farm Programme because it gives the participants the opportunity to practice employability skills; those soft skills that are so important to functioning effectively on the worksite such as punctuality, problem-solving abilities and how to work as a team. Based on students testimony during their final individual presentations, all of them learnt at least one of the soft skills mentioned by the TVET officer.

Classroom session in progress

IICA BARBADOS COURIER | Issue # 2

prospects for careers in agriculture. Ideas such as students speaking of owning their own farms or working with established farmers in Barbados were enthusiastically discussed and interestingly enough, the students were also quite engaging. At this point I would like to highlight how discussion is important because it underscores issues that have immediate and profound impacts on the lives of the marginalized and influences public action while promoting agency. Through dialogue, Barbadians could encourage that dynamism of taking on the role and responsibilities of citizenship, especially for those young people who are distant and far removed from policy formulation and advocacy. All of the youth who attended classes at Youth Farm School did so voluntarily. They worked tirelessly in the classroom as well as in field sessions and are more hopeful and confident about future change for agriculture than many adults I have met. The students from each of the schools are quite inspiring they came together and discussed issues aimed at addressing and resolving various concerns at their schools such as overgrown grass, cleaning of ponds, repairing greenhouse infrastructure and so on. My experiences as an intern at IICA have convinced me that the Youth Farm School Programme was a crucial start for the agricultural sector in Barbados. Helping these young people to establish a critical understanding and appreciation of their own potential and power of voice is a major step towards change and improvement for agriculture in Barbados. Kudos to IICA for executing such a useful and inspiring programme!

Nadines Say:
Empowering Youth through Agriculture
by Nadine McCall

Upon completion of my graduate studies, I interned at IICA in Barbados which is focused on contributing to the efforts of poverty reduction, development enhancement and sustainable and competitive agriculture through technical cooperation and innovation. On weekdays, two technical experts from the IICA Barbados Office (Damien Hinds and Roxanne Waithe) and I facilitated classes for students ranging from ages fifteen to seventeen. The students came from three public schools in Barbados: Grantley Adams Secondary School, St. Georges Secondary School and St. Lucy Secondary School. Every day we met with these students for our Youth Farm School Programme. The aim of the Youth Farm School Programme was to facilitate and encourage these young people in developing an interest in agriculture as a career choice. It sought to heighten awareness and activeness regarding local agricultural production and to demonstrate the sectors income earning potential using sustainable agricultural farming methods as well as encourage entrepreneurship and agribusiness ventures amongst rural youth. The substantive training which was provided during the programme helped to build capacity in agriculture among the youth by teaching them skills such as how to use low cost agro-technologies. In addition, the training promoted activeness regarding local issues and helped the youth in countering feelings of powerlessness about finding suitable jobs upon leaving school. In difficult economic times, such programmes highlight the need for urgency in advocating for reversing the decline of the agricultural industry in Barbados. I am of the view that the youth of Barbados may be in a position to permanently alter the course of the countrys future though agriculture. Through research and development and investment in agriculture, a more competitive and dynamic knowledgebased economy capable of sustainable economic growth may emerge. For example, in a small open economy such as Barbados, investment in agro-tourism may substantially strengthen the structure of the market and encourage innovation and

competition in the agricultural sector. My experiences as an intern at IICA in Barbados have impressed upon me, newfound appreciation for agriculture and admiration for the zest of youth. An incident which occurred during a Youth Farm field trip has prompted me to share some of my internship experiences. One day, during a field trip to Kendals Farm in St. John, a student approached me in a somewhat disheartened manner and asked me very candidly about the wisdom of investing in agriculture in Barbados as a career choice. Maam it doan mek nuh sense caw nobody nuh care bout dat dey. At the beginning of the Youth Farm School Programme, many of the students had preconceived notions about the lucrativeness of a primary industry which some critics say perpetuates a plantation economy. I believe that it is important that we disentangle ourselves from such antediluvian notions and help youth to identify and speak out on issues affecting them, their communities and ultimately their country. As such, I endeavoured to explain as best as I could how agriculture has the potential to revolutionize the Barbadian economy if strategies are properly implemented and the student seemed to re-think his position on agriculture as a career path. Other students then joined our conversation and attempted to discuss amongst themselves that agriculture is only perceived in a negative way because it is, in their view underappreciated by the powers that be. In later weeks, there was much discussion about the

A student approached me in a somewhat disheartened manner and asked me very candidly about the wisdom of investing in agriculture in Barbados as a career choice. Maam it doan mek nuh sense caw nobody nuh care bout dat dey.

IICA BARBADOS COURIER | Issue # 2

LATEST AGRI-NEWS BARBADOS

Caribbean Agritourism Blog

by

Roxanne Waithe

Agritourism is all about linking agriculture with products, services and experiences in tourism. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture has been promoting agritourism in the Caribbean since 2005 as part of its Hemispheric Program to strengthen links between tourism and agriculture through research, training and small business development. A key question about the concept of agritourism is whether it is centered on farms and farming activities. The reality is that Caribbean agritourism consists of several approaches that focus on selling local products and showcasing indigenous traditions that pertain to food and non-food items. Hence, there are different types of agritourism activities. Our research at IICA has revealed six different ways that agriculture can be linked to the tourism industry to the benefit of people living and working in rural communities: (a) When farmers and agri-processors make agribusiness deals with the hotel and restaurant sector to supply them with produce and processed foods (b) Through the use of alternative bush medicines, natural remedies and organic treatments to enhance health and wellness (c) By sharing our agricultural heritage with others through media such as craft, visits to old plantations or agricultural museums (d) Through our local food festivals and culinary traditions (e) With farm-based activities such as rural bed & breakfasts and farm tours (f) Through community-based initiatives such as village fairs, rum shop tours and community markets We need to share our Caribbean agritourism experiences. There are invaluable lessons to be learned from failed and successful projects. It is only through our shared experiences that we can develop a blueprint for best practice.

Virtual Backyard Gardening Zone

Facebook users who love gardening have been mingling in a special virtual space. Its a place where they go daily to get and share ideas and tips. The place is the Backyard Gardening Zone, an experimental effort of the Minisrty of Agricultures Food Crop Department at using a social media platform to share modern ideas on sustainable gardening. Visitors to the zone get to see and share photos and videos of garden experiences, while taking advantage of technical tips on growing crops. There are also links to information on the health benefits of fruit and vegetables and many other useful types of information.

Going with Organic Agriculture

Jul. 2012 - Going organic' should now be easier with the launch of Green Tech Barbados, a project which aims to educate the public about the benefits of organic produce. The pilot project will use both LIME and DIGICEL Short Messaging Service (SMS) platforms to share information on organic produce, its benefits and where it can be purchased, via text message. The GreenTech Barbados team has been working closely with the Organic Growers and Consumers Association (OGCA) to achieve five objectives: establishing a Facebook page where consumers may visit for information on organic farming and interact with members of the association; creating a questionnaire to get key information from consumers about their awareness, use and demand for organic produce; promoting organic farming in traditional and social media; adapting new media such as short message service (text messaging) to promote the interests of the association; and transferring technology knowledge to the OGCA so that the farmers can sustain the pilot project.

IICA Barbados Staff Spot

Each edition we will introduce members of staff in the Barbados Courier. In this second edition we feature some of our administrative team.

Ms. Noor Denner - Accounts Technician Mrs. Marcia Husbands, Assistant Secretary

Rudolph Hippolyte Driver

IICA BARBADOS COURIER | Issue # 2

The Caribbean Plant Health Directors Forum

The Caribbean Plant Health Directors Forum emerged out of the need for a regional mechanism for sharing of information, collaborating, guiding policies, and addressing relevant plant health issues of importance to the Region. The meetings are planned and convened by several agencies and organizations including the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (USDA-APHIS), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the CARICOM Secretariat and the Ministries of Agriculture of the countries where the meetings are held. Other partner agencies over the years include the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), CIRAD (the French Agricultural Research for Development) and CABI. Funding for the meeting is provided by the USDA-APHIS, IICA and FAO with support from the host Ministries of Agriculture. The first meeting of the Regional Plant Health Directors was held April 23-25, 2008 at the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana. A total of twenty two (22) countries were represented. Representatives from all CARICOM Member States were in attendance in addition to representatives from the CARICOM Associate States of Anguilla and the Cayman Islands. Since the first meeting in Guyana, there have been four meetings of the CPHD Forum and the number of participating countries has increased. The fifth meeting of the CPHD was convened during August 14-16, 2012 on Scrub Island, the British Virgin Islands. Twenty six countries were represented, indicating a wider level of representation from the Greater Caribbean Region. In addition to the CARICOM Member States and Associate Member States (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands) the following countries were represented: Aruba, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Martinique and St. Maarten. Also in attendance were representatives from the Organization on of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (OIRSA), the University of the West Indies, the University of Florida, (CARDI), IICA, FAO, USDA-APHIS, CABI and the CARICOM Secretariat.

by Carol

Thomas

At the 5th meeting of the CPHD, new officers were elected to serve for two years. Michael Delpeche from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was elected as the chairman, Ryan Anselm from Dominica, co-chair and Eric Evelyn from Saint Kitts and Nevis, technical secretary. The CPHD has five technical working groups (TWG) that have been formed to address key regional plant health issues. They are as follows: Palm pests Molluscs Tephritid fruit flies Safeguarding Emergency preparedness and response

CLIMATE CHANGE CORNER

In April 2012 Barbados cabinet approved the countrys new National Climate Change Policy. In June 2012 IICA Barbados participated in the discussions that would help to produce Barbados Second National Communications (SNC) Report on climate change to the UNFCCC. During the discussions, the delegation from the agriculture and fisheries sector deliberated on the critical climate change issues that should be addressed in the report. Key points pertained to how flooding, water shortages, pests and disease act to reduce agricultural yield. The team also emphasized the need for new crop varieties and cultivars to maintain output. In the fisheries sector some anomalies were highlighted such as an increase in the proportion of juveniles in some fish populations, particularly dolphin. It was noted that fish migrate away from the fishing grounds during heavy rainfall periods, seriously affecting the livelihoods of local fisher folk. Catches of flying fish have also been significantly reduced, though the cause is yet unknown.

Some of the outputs from these working groups include; development of several guidelines and procedures, on-going development of priority pest lists, on-going development of information products (e.g. the Red Palm Mite manual), and development of a database and standard recording form for fruit flies. Other outputs were a Giant African Snail survey conducted in several countries, a regional fruit fly trapping programme, and training in the detection and identification of fruit flies of economic importance. The CPHD Forum, through technical assistance and funding provided by USDAAPHIS, FAO and IICA has achieved the following: Provided specialized training in mites and fruit flies Trained over 200 persons in the region in pest identification, fruit fly trapping and pest surveillance. Provided diagnostic equipment to several countries Supported the Regional Plant Quarantine training course

These capacity building actions have strengthened the capability of countries to respond to plant health issues and to improve plant health systems. The CPHD forum serves an important role in the Region and it is expected that this role will expand even further as more challenging plant health issues arise.

IICA BARBADOS COURIER | Issue # 2

IICA FonTC Small Ruminant Commercialization Project: Meat Fabrication Workshop

by Damien Hinds

The IICA Barbados Office continued its implementation of the FonTC Small Ruminanant Commercialisation project with the staging of a 2day small ruminant meat fabrication workshop for the benefit of fifteen Barbadian butchers form a cross-section of abattoirs, meat shops, and supermarkets throughout Barbados. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Reiza Mohamdally, an experienced meat fabrication and food hygiene specialist with training and exposure both in North America and the Caribbean. Mr. Mohamdally led the participants through a fully interactive and practically based training session which included; a sensitization on the personal practices that should be observed by the food handler; a lecture supported by a video on the best practices for ensuring meat quality form the preslaughter of the animal all the way through to the post-mortem inspection and the final carcass preparation. The practical side of the workshop focused primarily on the preparation of high value specialized and retail cuts of the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep including: the Crown Roast from the rib sections, French and American-style leg cuts; and square cut roasts from the shoulder section. The workshop, which took place at the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) meat processing facility in Bridgetown was opened with remarks by: Mr. Andrew Skeete Chief Executive Officer of the BADMC, who gave welcoming remakes on behalf of the host institution; MS. Carol Thomas, IICA Representative (a.i.), who gave an overview of the regional Small Ruminant Commercialisation Project; and Mr Charleston Lucas, Deputy Chief

Agricultural Officer (livestock) who expressed his pleasure in having such a workshop considering the need to have all players along the value-chain including butchers maintain the Barbados Blackbelly Sheeps prominence as a high quality, high value meat. Following the workshop, the trainees received certificates for their participation in the workshop and expressed their satisfaction in what they had gained from the workshop. Most of the participants suggested they had not done much fabrication of the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep before and that awareness and preparation of the various high quality cuts was as a highlight of the training. According to Mark Hunte who was representing Trimart Supermarket at the training expressed that he had never known how to prepare a Crown Roast prior to the workshop but expressed a joy in now being able to offer this option to his clients. Participants also expressed their satisfaction in the training material presented by the consultant and expressed gratitude for the sensitization of the general food hygiene practices associated with the handling of fresh meat. Suggestions for the improvement of the workshop include a better understanding of the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep production as well as some practical training in the slaughtering of the animals. On concluding the workshop Mr. Mohamdally thanked the participants for their attention during the workshop. Additionally, Ms. Thomas suggested that as a follow-up to the workshop that visits to the participants would be scheduled to ensure compliance with the meat fabrication techniques demonstrated.

1MrMr. Mohamdally demonstrates how to prepare a crown roast

Mr. Mohamdally (in white coat) in a practical training session

Dennis Hurdle receives his certificate from Carol Thomas

IICA BARBADOS
Agri-quote I introduced ladybugs to deal with the pests that were harassing the cabbage in my backyard garden and in four days time everything was growing good again.. Calvin Carrington(16yrs) Grantley Adams Memorial Secondary School Baobab Tower Warrens, St. Michael Tel: 246.271.9210 Email: Sharon.ellis.@iica.int

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