– to benefit farmers in the community

FARMERS who operate within the Hope Estate would be able to access over $8 million in tools which were donated by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) through its PROPEL initiative.

Over the years, farmers from the community have been using traditional means of cultivating their farms, but the new equipment will assist them in shortening the time they take to prepare and cultivate and improve their efficiency.

The Hope Coconut Industries Limited was tasked with storing and managing the use of the equipment. In order to access the equipment, farmers would have to pay a small fee, said General Manager of Hope Coconut Industries Limited, Ricky Roopchand during the handing over ceremony on Friday.

“This is a very special day for us… it augurs well for the estate and for the farmers who will have access to the equipment,” he said, adding that it will not be a “free for all,” because they would need finance to sustain the tools.

Some of the items which were donated include four land tillers, four knap sack sprayers, four mist blowers, four direct seed planters, water pumps, grass cutters, boats, out board engines, storage room and safety gears.

Deputy Project Director of PROPEL, Munish Persaud said the equipment will help to build the capacity of the Hope Coconut Industries Limited but also provide a service to the farmers who need them.

The items were specifically donated as requested or needed by farmers, he said, adding that prior to making the donation, a team from the project met with farmers who expressed their concerns and needs.

Persaud said the team observed that women were the poorest farmers in the area and agreed that they be given priority for use of the equipment.
Although women would be the main beneficiaries, it would not restrict men from utilising the tools as well. Farmers are also expected to benefit from training on how to use the equipment.

“The tools gon help me weed my farm faster because I would take like half day to weed part but with the new equipment it gon take me less time,” said one of the female farmers from the community.

While the equipment would be beneficial to farmers, it would also help the company to boost its revenue stream.

PROPEL which was implemented in five Caribbean countries (Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, and St Lucia), works with private sector buyers, producers and governments to support up to 11,500 small to medium-scale producers in the Caribbean.

The organisation also works with processors and related businesses to increase the supply of agricultural products – particularly fresh produce – to high value markets, like supermarkets, hotels and traders, including exporters and importers, in the Caribbean.

Gender equality is an important element of the project, so the organisation has started to integrate gender equality approaches by supporting women and men’s equitable access to high-value markets, supporting women’s leadership and decision making, and increasing the institutional capacity of partners to equitably respond to the needs of women and men and address gender inequality issues.