GARD Center GEF Small Grants Programme project themed : “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.” practical training on field visit to Blaire Christian’s Backyard Garden in Bolans April 20, 2023
GARD Center GEF Small Grants Programme project themed : “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.” practical training on field visit to Birchfield Osborne’s Backyard Garden in McKinnons, May 9, 2023
Composting Demonstration with Facilitator Ms. Efuru Elihu, a Backyard Gardening Technician in the Ministry of Agriculture
Announcing to the OECS member states of Antigua &
Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent
& the Grenadines the Call for Expressions of Interest to join the OAS Women
Economic Empowerment (WEE) Project. This project targets women-owned and
women-led Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and is designed to empower
women to actively participate in and benefit from the digital economy and to
build sustainable livelihoods.
By participating in this project, women entrepreneurs will have
access to mechanisms and various opportunities for digitizing their businesses,
building an online presence, accessing financial services, accessing
international markets, among others. Cutting edge information on relevant
topics for business development as well as mentoring programs will be provided
and direct access to a MSME Clearinghouse which provides toolkits and resources
to access the digital economy, financial opportunities and partnerships. A National
Working Group has been established in each country made up of partner
institutions to provide support to businesses.
MSME Women entrepreneurs operating within these member
countries, are invited to apply at https://forms.gle/E5h5GrVcVrxchsyi9. This registration link will remain
open until April 27, 2023.
The better equipped our
women entrepreneurs are, the greater their impact on economic growth and
development of their families and communities.
The OAS WEE project encourages
wide circulation to all eligible women. For more information, contact the Caribbean
Project Manager, Lizra Fabien at LFabien@oas.org.
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) recently received funding from its partner the GEF Small Grants Programme, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme for the project: “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.”
This 8-month project officially began on 6 February 2023 and will be completed in October 2023.
Focus of the project emphasizes these main areas:
· To increase public awareness about Climate Smart and sustainable Agricultural technology and approaches, by producing and distributing brochures.
· Training Workshops will be conducted using Climate Smart Agricultural Practices.
· Repair and upgrade current hydroponics unit and to construct secured fencing around its perimeter.
· To increase production of crops locally adapted ground provisions such as sweet potatoes and cassava varieties.
From its inception in 2020 EbA Project Partner IAMovement has engaged directly through our CBO/NGOs with the ten communities in the four implementing countries in business opportunities utilizing vetiver systems, handicraft and product development. To date the Project has engaged with more than three hundred community residents in either VS-VEEP installations and nursery operations and /or Handicraft Training.
One of our many partners IICA Antigua and Barbuda, has started a training program of 9 drone pilots here in Antigua and Barbuda. These pilots are to help with the collection of information regarding the EbA project here in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Center has
successfully completed 14 weeks of training in Community Climate Smart
Agriculture with special focus on Business, Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics.
This training sponsored by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) focused on
the communities of the North, East Marine Management Area (NEMMA). The course
commenced on 31st May 2022 with sessions held every Tuesday –
Thursday from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at GARD Center.
The latter part of the training encouraged
participants to engage in practical, hands-on training and field visits were
made to Hydroponics Farms and Backyard Gardens. The practical components also saw
persons constructing raised beds, a compost bin, and a Mini Hydroponics unit as
part of a Start-Up Kit. Additionally, participants engaged in planting seeds as
well as transplanting seedlings into raised beds as part of their practical
sessions.
The Completion Ceremony for the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) was held on Wednesday 31st August 2022 at GARD Center and 8 out of 11 trainees receive certificates, a Mini Hydroponics and Backyard Garden Start-Up Kit with other complimentary tools to assist with their Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics journey.
Practical Sessions and Field Visits for Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics Class Sessions
Bowen’s Hydroponics Field Visit
SHAADE Hydroponics Field Visit
Backyard Gardening Field Visit to Mr. Osborne’s Property
\Mr. Osborne’s Backyard Gardening
Crabbs Plant Nursery Field Visit
Cleaning GARDC Hydroponics System
Exploring Types of Hydroponic Systems
Finding Donkey Manure for Raised Garden Beds
Building Raised Beds
Constructing Compost Bin Using Pallets
Planting Cuttings of Flower Plants Using Powder in Perlite
