Context
Traditional approaches still dominate agricultural production in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Limited access to water impacts steady consistent growth of crops; and because the crops are under an open heaven, windblown pathogens and other microorganisms limit plant growth and consistent productivity. The extensive layout of traditional agriculture demands large quantities of water reinforced by the fact that in dry seasons, the water evaporates before it can have the desired effect. There is increasing demand for larger acreage for plant and animal husbandry because of low productivity on existing acreage due to the vagaries of climate change. The net effect is that returns on investment remain unstable and small with the result that the Federation?s food security is still challenged and young people are driven away from agriculture as a livelihood. The demand for greater agricultural productivity to eliminate or reduce the Federation?s food insecurity occurs simultaneously with high unemployment among youth and criminal and other anti-social acts occur because as the old adage goes idle hands will always be utilized by evil. In this context, there is a challenge and an opportunity.

Environmental Problem
These traditional agricultural practices, against the backdrop of climate change place greater stress on scarce and depleting resources like land and water. Correspondingly, the Federation faces an unsustainable situation of balancing competing demands for these resources while confronting the challenge of adverse impacts of criminal activity and other anti-social acts among its youths. The challenge is how to bring these two dilemmas together and provide a solution that satisfies both.

Proposed Approach
This project intends to utilize current green/shade house technology coupled with workshops or lectures on entrepreneurship to stimulate young persons? interest in agriculture and animal husbandry while simultaneously combatting the impacts of climate change on productivity and food security. Green/Shade house technology maximizes productivity on smaller tracts of land, and because the crops live in a controlled environment, the quality is much higher and productivity per square foot is better than traditional agricultural practices. These practices that will involve older dispossessed youth and younger primary school students will impact their thinking about agriculture and introduce them to new approaches that are more scientific, data-based and business-focused. The traditional picture of a farmer returning home worn out after an entire day of back-breaking toil will be replaced with one in which the workday is better managed and more sheltered from the harsh rays of a scorching sun.

In the green/shade house environment however, the plants grow in a covered structure that is impervious to harmful pathogens and microorganisms. Entrance to the structure requires that footwear be sanitized and clothing clean. The water requirements are less and depending on the technology, it can be recycled. Also, the structure can capture rainfall to be stored in tanks and reduce demand on public water supply.


Project Sites and Targeted Community
The project sites are located in St. Pauls and Saddle Hill, Nevis. The targeted communities are the St. Pauls Village and Cox/Clay Ghaut Village in Nevis

Relevance of Project to Country Programme Strategy
The project relates to the strategy of climate change which is included as one of the country initiatives to stimulate economic activity and sustainable development. As indicated above, the project seeks to utilize greenhouse technology to maximize land use in producing food products that reduce dependence on foreign sources of food. Because food will be grown in controlled environments, and utilize smaller amounts of resources for higher anticipated yields, the approach will directly confront the phenomenon of climate change which impacts the planet. In its small way the project will contribute its pebble as the global community builds a rock-solid buffer against the mounting threat of climate change.