BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, September 27, 2023 (IICA-SKN) — Operational thrust of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which has been working in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis for over 30 years, is aimed at increasing the contributions of agriculture to economic growth and sustainable development.
As the country faces challenges posed by the effects of global climate change, through its St. Kitts and Nevis Climate Smart Agriculture Project (SKN CSA-P), IICA has a project that will promote climate-smart agriculture initiative targeting 4,241 direct beneficiaries in the Federation. It is still in the concept note phase, having first been submitted by the Accredited Entity Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) in September 2022 and again in December 2022.
“St. Kitts and Nevis Climate Smart Agriculture Project (SKN CSA-P) – a climate-resilient development project for agriculture – is one of a handful of pioneering smart agriculture projects in St. Kitts and Nevis that will transform the sector in a number of ways,” said Ms Sharon Jones, IICA Technical Specialist in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Ms. Jones made the remarks on Tuesday, September 26, at the Accountability Seminar 2023 for IICA Delegation in St. Kitts and Nevis, which was held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort Ballroom, where she presented the organisation’s Annual Report 2023 (covering the period October 2022 to September 2023).
According to the IICA Technical Specialist in St. Kitts and Nevis, the strategy which is currently undergoing corrections to be resubmitted later this year, will transform the agriculture sector by among others offering a strengthened enabling environment for climate smart agriculture (CSA) at national, community and farm levels.
The 6-year US$ 25.196 million climate-smart agriculture initiative will also offer a strengthened Decision Support System (DSS) for climate-smart agriculture at national, community and farm levels; Low carbon, climate-resilient agricultural practices mainstreamed at community and farm levels; and enhanced knowledge management for climate-smart agriculture at national, community and farm levels.
Delivering remarks at the Accountability Seminar 2023, which was chaired by the Director of the Department of Agriculture in Nevis, Mr Randy Elliott, was the St. Lucia-based IICA Representative in the Eastern Caribbean States, Mr Gregg C.E. Rawlins.
Also delivering remarks were Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture et al in the Nevis Island Administration, the Hon Eric Evelyn; and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture et al, Mr Miguel Fleming, who delivered remarks on behalf of the Minister, the Hon Samal Duggins.
Ms Jones further pointed out that some of IICA’s territorial development and farming successes in the Federation include capacity building in climate-smart agriculture production and marketing to improve food security and promote independent living of persons with disabilities.
“Teaching agriculture, marketing and related skills encourage home food security, increases self-employment opportunities and income generating skills,” observed Ms Jones. A local organisation that IICA has targeted is the St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities (SKNAPD), a non-profit group which is managed by and for people with disabilities.
The association which was represented by its Secretary, Ms Vincentia Wilkerson, who offered the opening prayer at the Accountability Seminar 2023, has a parcel of land in St. Peter’s, St. Kitts, that it is interested in developing as a training venue for sustainable agriculture production.
“They approached IICA, who assisted in designing and writing a project proposal,” said Ms Jones. “The project was successful and was awarded a US$50,000.00 grant from Global Environment Fund Small Grant (GEF SG) in March 2023. The project is well supported by the Ministry of Agriculture et al, as well as the Ministry of Social Development.”
Under agriculture biodiversity, capacity building and sustainable development in St. Kitts and Nevis, the St. Kitts Beekeepers Cooperative (SKBC) approached IICA to assist in designing a project towards a grant application to Global Environment Fund Small Grant (GEF SG) for US$50,000.00. The cooperative has since increased its membership, membership diversity, facilitated workshops and other activities.
At the end of her power point/slide presentation, Ms Jones presented the printed 2023 Annual Report to Minister Evelyn, after which stakeholders were involved in lively discussions. Among the stakeholders, apart from the Ministries and Departments of Agriculture, and Health on St. Kitts and Nevis, were St. Kitts Agro Processors, Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities, and Nature’s Riches.