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16th
January 2010
Farmer Certification
Programme
 Farmer
Certification Rationale :
Consumers expect the food which they eat to
be safe. Unsafe food poses a threat to the health
and safety of plant and animal populations and
impacts negatively on consumer confidence in
the product. This can lead to loss of revenue
to producers.
In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Lands, Fisheries & Forestry initiated a
Farmer Certification Programme for some 37 local
farmers in 2009. The successful farmers received
their graduation certificates at the Babonneau
Secondary School on January 6th, 2010. The graduating
ceremony was competently chaired by Christine
Glasgow, who welcomed the following speakers
to the podium; namely :
• Mr. Eden Compton – Director of
Agricultural Services (MALFF)
• Mr. Vincent La Corbiniere – Marketing
Specialist (MALFF)
• Mr. Dunstan Demille – Perishables
Manager – Consolidated Foods Limited (CFL)
• Mr. Freemont Lawrence - Communications
Officer (WINFRESH)
• Hon. Ezechiel Joseph – Minister
for Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries & Forestry
Each speaker expressed serious concern about
raising standards and quality improvement of
agricultural produce in the ongoing agricultural
diversification process. According to Mr. Compton
: “Maintaining standards for good agricultural
practices is becoming a must for trading, for
the protection of our environment and for the
protection of our consumers of food.”
He noted, the infrastructure to support a diversified
agriculture sector is now being developed with
funding and technical support from the European
Union (EU), Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation
in Agriculture (IICA), Mexican Government, Japanese
Government; and most importantly, the Taiwanese
Government. Mr. Compton highlighted the following
projects being implemented at Union and Beausejour
Agricultural Stations :
• Meat Processing Facility (MPF) at Beausejour
Agricultural Station in Vieux Fort
• Tissue Culture Laboratory
• Aqua Culture and Hatchery
• A modern Greenhouse for Orchids &
Cut Flowers
• A new Marketing Facility at Cul-De-Sac
to replace the St. Lucia Marketing Board (SLMB)
in Castries.
• An Eco-Tourism Park/Botanical Garden
• A Dairy and livestock Farm at Beausejour
Agricultural Station in Vieux Fort.
Mr. Compton says, the ministry is working towards
the development of a sustainable agriculture
sector with crop and livestock production guided
by certified farmers. Marketing Specialist,
Vincent La Corbiniere spoke about the linkage
between SLMB, CFL and the farming community
to market fresh local agricultural produce to
consumers aimed at a major reduction in foreign
imports in St. Lucia.
CFL’s Perishables Manager, Dunstan Demille,
noted that a sustainable agriculture sector
will boost the local farming community by continued
production of high quality and safe agricultural
produce for consumers. He pointed out, that
glo co co (coconut water) accounted for over
$80,000 in sales at Mega J. Mr. Demille congratulated
the graduating farmers for achieving this milestone
of certification.
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WINFRESH’s
Corporate Communications Officer, Freemont
Lawrence, echoed the rebranding of WIBDECO
to WINFRESH towards the end of 2009. He says,
that rebranding affords a broader supply of
agricultural produce from the Windward Islands;
noting that WINFRESH is ideally placed to
take advantage of the existing marketing facility
for banana exports to Europe. Indeed, the
WINFRESH Group has been a major supplier of
premium bananas in the UK market. WINFRESH
will continue to serve the banana industry
and the agricultural export sector of the
Windward Islands. The WINFRESH Group has developed
strong links with major UK retailers for Fairtrade
and premium product categories. Under the
WINFRESH brand a range of high quality fresh
and value-added products and services will
be provided to its clientele.
Agriculture Minister, Ezechiel Joseph, applauded
the success of the Farmer Certification Programme
and said the aim is to achieve “Green
Agriculture” and wholesome produce.
The Minister also disclosed his Work Programme
for 2010 as follows :
• A promotional campaign programme dubbed
“Buy Local Produce” to be jointly
undertaken by the Ministry of Trade, Industry,
Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affair &
Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries
& Forestry.
• A new Agricultural Marketing Complex
at Cul-De-Sac, to replace the existing St.
Lucia Marketing Board (SLMB) as a Public/Private
Sector Clearing House. Construction work is
expected to begin by March/April 2010.
• The Praedial Larceny Pilot Project
to be expanded to the northern region, ie:
Gros Islet, Babonneau and environs.
Minister Ezechiel Joseph also urged farmers
to take the Farmer Certification Programme
very seriously to produce better quality agricultural
produce.
Objectives of the certification programme:
? Development of appropriate production system
to ensure the quality and safety of all agricultural
commodities and facilitate the development
of trade;
? Increased knowledge of producers of the
impact of their farming activities on the
food chain
? Increased productivity and competitiveness
of locally produced agricultural produce
? Increased effectiveness of management by
producers and traders
The Farmer Certification Programme is designed
to strengthen the relationship between producers
and purchasers and to provide stakeholders
(producers and purchasers) with technical
assistance necessary to:
? Establish production/marketing linkages,
? Identify market requirements for selected
targeted markets,
? Develop production plans with a view to
reduce the glut/scarcity supply gap of the
local market, therefore reducing the need
to import fruits and vegetables that can be
produced locally.
Discuss
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