Banana Industry Trust Corporation

Agriculture For A New Age

Banana Commercialization & Agricultural Diversification Programme - Banana Industry Trust Corporation
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Banana Commercialization & Agricultural Diversification Programme

Overview

SFA 2005 – Banana Commercialization & Agricultural Diversification Programme

The overall objective of this Programme was to increase the productivity of farm enterprises and support increased agricultural production and marketing through niche markets, so as to improve the social and economic well being of the country.

 

The implementation of this Programme was a joint undertaking of the BIT and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The budget for the Programme was €2,820,521 of which €2,677,313 was provided by the European Union Special Framework of Assistance (SFA) and €143,208 by IICA.

 

With this intervention, farmers are better equipped to meet the challenges of production and marketing of various crops as a result of the efforts of the BIT in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The BIT and IICA have supported the country’s agricultural diversification programme through the implementation of various projects in the crop sector. These projects consisted of commodity specific and supportive types. The commodity specific projects relate to the commercialization of production and marketing of selected commodities – pineapple, cutflower, cassava, cocoa and banana. The supportive projects are those actions that cut across commodity lines and address areas of common need.

PINEAPPLE

Assessment of the production/marketing/distribution system for the pineapple industry.

 

This Project provided a diagnosis of all the activities involved in the pre-production, production, harvest, post-harvest handling, processing, transportation and marketing including technical support available with the likely impact of selected interventions. Recommendations on strategies to address the deficiencies and the possibility of cluster formation included the testing of new varieties; pay attention to drainage in the plots; plant spacing; soil and tissue analyses for fertilizer application; treatment of the crop as an annual with replanting after harvest of the fruit; and monitoring the production schedule of the registered farmers using a modified production schedule form.

 

Projects implemented under this commodity were:

  1. Assessment of maturity indices and illustrative guides for pineapple cultivars grown in Saint Lucia
  2. Establishment of two (2) demonstration plots for commercial pineapple production
  3. Establishment of an organic pineapple demonstration plot
  4. Supply and installation of an irrigation system for a pineapple demonstration plot
  5. Support for expansion of Commercial Pineapple production
  6. Post harvest training for pineapple producers
  7. Training in agronomic practices of pineapple production.

CUTFLOWER

Assessment of the production/marketing/distribution system for the cutflower (Heliconia, Anthurium, Ginger Lily, Orchid) industry.

 

This Project provided a diagnosis of all the activities involved in the pre- production, production, harvest/post-harvest handling, processing, transportation and marketing including technical support available with the likely impact of selected interventions. Recommendations on strategies to address the deficiencies included the strengthening of the Saint Lucia Floral Cooperative Society, formation of cluster and synchronizing the industry with global trends.

 

Projects implemented under the commodity were:

  1. Supply and installation of shade houses to support expansion of cutflower production in Saint Lucia
  2. Provision of material inputs to support expansion of cutflower production
  3. Post harvest training for cutflower producers.

CASSAVA

Assessment of the production/marketing/distribution system for the cassava industry.

 

This Project provided a diagnosis of all the activities involved in the pre- production, production, harvest, post-harvest handling, processing, transportation and marketing including technical support available with the likely impact of selected interventions. Recommendations on strategies to address the deficiencies included:

a) Immediately

  • Engage the tourism industry into having cassava products into the resorts and placed before the tourists
  • A market study should be commissioned to quantify local consumer demand and market development potential identifying the types of processors and the quantity of their total output.

b) Short-term

  • Export links specifically for farine should be re-established through the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce with counterparts in Martinique
  • Focusing on the sweet varieties, field trials should be conducted on improved varieties with high yielding and shorter maturity time frame.

BANANA

The focus on this commodity was: (1) the development of a mechanism aimed at finding a solution to the perennial problem to pest and disease control in the banana industry and (2) the supply of equipment to banana farmers to support of Global Gap compliance.

 

Projects implemented under the commodity were:

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  1. Management System for black and yellow Sigatoka Diseases of Banana
  2. Establishment of black and yellow Sigatoka Disease Management System
  3. Scheduling and Forecasting Production System
  4. Farm Waste Collection and Disposal System
  5. Establishment of three (3) Demonstration Plots for Commercial Banana Production
  6. Provision of Irrigation Equipment for Banana Demonstration Plots
  7. Supply of Equipment for farmers for the Storage of on-farm agro-chemicals
  8. Supply of skips/bins for the National Fair Trade Organization Farmers for Farm Waste collection
  9. Supply of maxing bays and first aid kits for the National Fairtrade Organization (NFTO) Farmers
  10. Supply of Chemical/Pesticides signs for the National Fair Trade Organization Farmers

These projects were implemented during the 2009-2010 period.

COCOA

Assessment of the production/marketing/distribution system for the cocoa industry

 

This project provided a diagnosis of all the activities involved in the pre production, production, harvest/post harvest handling, processing, transportation and marketing with technical support available and likely impact of selected interventions. Recommendations on the strategies to address the deficiencies and the possibility of cluster formation including funding for the relocation and expansion of the Germplasm Bank; farmers should have secured land tenure to venture into commercial cocoa production; appropriate inputs at affordable cost should be available to farmers; re-establishment of two (2) to three (3) micro-fermentaries based on geographical spread of the farms; a strategy of revolving credits for inputs rather than provision of subsidies; training and awareness programmes in pest and disease control; revitalization programmes promoting year round possibilities of harvest; establishment of a Cocoa Revitalization Unit to promote the profitability and agro environmental benefits of the cocoa industry and encourage farmers to consider organizing themselves into groups.

 

Projects implemented under the commodity were:

  1. Establishment of Cocoa Germplasm Bank at Barthe Nursery
  2. The Supply of Inputs to Support the Production of Cocoa Planting Material.
  3. Cocoa Germplasm Identification and Disease Resistance Training
  4. Training in Molecular Characterization (Molecular Markers for Germplasm Management)
  5. Training in Cocoa Flavour Profiling (Best practices along the Cocoa Value Chain and Quality Assessment Protocols)
  6. Rehabilitation and Expansion of the Cocoa Industry
  7. Construction of a Cocoa Microfermentary at Anse Ger, Micoud
  8. Supply of Equipment to Enhance Productivity of the Cocoa Industry
  9. Supply of Equipment for a Cocoa Microfermentary at Anse Ger, Micoud
  10. Procurement of Agricultural Inputs for the Ministry of Agriculture Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme
  11. Participation in the Caribbean Fine Cocoa Conference and Chocolate Exposition.

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SUPPORTIVE PROJECTS

 

  1. The Identification of Products in the Domestic and Regional Markets
  2. A Geographical Indicators (GI) Study Tour to Brussels
  3. Farmer Study Tour to Costa Rica and El Salvador
  4. Supply and Installation of Shade houses for cocoa propagation for the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and Fisheries (MALFF), Barthe Nursery
  5. The Construction of Shade house Foundation and Access Road at Barthe
  6. Supply of Equipment to Strengthen the Agricultural Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and Fisheries (MALFF)
  7. Farmer Organizations Leadership and Business Skills Training
  8. Facilitation of National Forum for Young Leaders in Agriculture and Rural Development in Saint Lucia
  9. Supply of Materials for Information and Communication System of Selected Producer Organizations
  10. Public Awareness and Sensitization
  11. Assessment of Greenhouse Vegetable Value Chain in the Saint Lucia.
  12. Documentary Production for the SFA 2005 – Projects

 

These projects were implemented during the period 2009-2011.