This project is expected to tackle the GEF Focal Area of Land Degradation through promoting sustainable agriculture practices, in particular, improving agricultural waste practices and organic methods of crop production. This project focuses on making positive changes in the attitudes of farmers, school children and hotel and restaurant staff in Tobago. Although these individuals make up the major target group, the project is expected to reach households throughout the island through a promotional and awareness programme which will also be pursued.

The area of focus is in reducing the use of harmful pesticides and synthetic fertilizers which have far-reaching negative effects on human and environmental health. The project aims at encouraging farmers, homeowners and landscapers to practice ?organic? production in an attempt to protect the very fragile environment in which they operate. As a demonstration, four shade houses will be constructed using local material such as the invasive bamboo species Bambusa sp. in schools and on farms to demonstrate the impact of the production of vegetables under a controlled environment. It is expected that there would be a reduction in pesticide use with this system as farmers will be able to better control diseases which are spread through rain-splash. Production under this system is expected to be done using ?principles of organic farming?. By sustainably harvesting Bambusa, the project is also contributing to controlling this invasive species for use in the construction of the shade houses.

The project also tackles the issue of reducing the volume of compostable organic matter which enters the single landfill in Tobago at Studley Park. In a survey conducted by Travel Foundation in 2008, forty-seven (47) properties including hotels, restaurants and villas, seventeen (17) respondents indicated that more than 50% of the waste generated from their establishment was compostable. Although there is no detail on what they considered as compostable, the figure is instructive since twenty-five (25) respondents indicated that 100% of the waste was dumped in the landfill. Seventeen (17) respondents did not answer the question on how much of the waste was dumped. Although it was difficult for many to identify exact volumes, participants presented information in terms of garbage bags disposed of. Over two thousand (2000) large garbage bags of garbage are dumped per month from the forty-seven (47) properties surveyed. This project aims to reduce the total amount of compostable waste entering the landfill site by eliminating compostable waste from fifteen (15) local businesses and ten (10) local schools. Individuals and businesses will be encouraged to separate garbage and produce their own compost on-site.

There is no concerted effort in Tobago at present to address these particular issues. There is need for education from the ground level up, i.e. change in behavior patterns and attitudes with regard to environmental issues, waste management and sustainable development.

The goal of this project is to provide alternative products, methods and strategies for reducing harmful pesticides and insecticides and to introduce and build capacity in composting. Alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and to traditional farming methods will be utilized. The objectives of the project are to optimize the use of organic matter in farming practices, reduce the volume of compostable material from hotels, restaurants and schools and to reduce the volume of harmful pesticides being used by the target group.