BARBADOS – Canada assisting with food growing efforts

The Canadian Government is assisting the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management with efforts to encourage Barbadians to grow more food, through the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) project.

PROPEL is a sustainable economic growth project, which aims to increase the chances of Caribbean fresh produce reaching high-value markets, regionally and internationally, through funding of CAD $100 million over six years.

PROPEL has donated two pieces of equipment which can be used by small farmers to plant several types of crops, especially small seeds. They are a Paperpot Transplanter, which will significantly reduce the time required to transplant crops, and a Vacuum Seeder.  The Seeder, an accessory to the Paperpot Transplanter, facilitates the quick sowing of seeds.

PROPEL’s Coordinator for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr. Nadia Pacquette-Anselm, will officially present the equipment to Chief Agricultural Officer, Lennox Chandler, tomorrow, Thursday January 4, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ministry’s offices at Graeme Hall, Christ Church.  A representative from the Canadian High Commission will also be in attendance.