The aim of the project is to have more young people involved in sustainable agriculture and to have them more actively engaged in environmental conservation.

? The 4-H leaders and clubites have always been interested in developing agricultural projects at school and at home, however they usually lack the necessary skills, materials, technical support, and/or secure space to have successful long term projects. The clubs/clubites usually have difficulties in purchasing seedlings, compost, animals etc. for their projects due to lack of finance.
? Over the years 4-H clubs in the southern district have had the least agricultural projects and products displayed at their District exhibitions. This and other reasons prove that the southern district is one of the areas in Dominica where a greater concentration needs to be placed on agriculture and environmental conservation, and this can be done through Best Practices in sustainable agriculture.
? Within the district the Bagatelle 4-H club has always been different with its vegetable gardens and animal rearing projects- they have had rabbit, goat and poultry rearing projects. Presently they are focussing on poultry and vegetables therefore they have been identified as the main production site to provide training, compost and seedlings to the other clubs in the southern district and other areas as the project grows.
? The available agricultural plot (approx. 1 acre of fertile land) would be ideal to create a model agricultural plot for the 4-H programme. It is partly fenced and would therefore need to be a more secure area. The present poultry rearing project can be upgraded. Presently 100 broilers are housed in a 25ftx12ft pen which could accommodate 200 birds, however that the building is in need of repairs. The production of vegetable seedlings and compost would be the other main projects. They have been producing a wide variety of vegetables but require a shade house, agricultural tools and other inputs. A composting shed would create a controlled area for production of compost for the vegetable production and for distribution/sale to others.
* The five (5) other junior 4-H clubs based in the southern district have always had difficulties which prevent them from having successful agricultural projects.

Through this project each club would receive-:
-fencing material for part or full fencing of a suitable area on their respective school grounds for vegetable production
- Garden tools
-vegetable seeds and seedling trays.

*EC$6,000 is being requested from GEF/SGP; however contributions from the schools, communities and the Government will be utilized throughout the project.


1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project
4-H is an international organisation which started in the United States as Young Farmers Clubs. In the Caribbean Jamaica and Trinidad have the largest membership however The Dominica 4-H Clubs are regarded as one of the most active in the region,4-H was introduced to Dominica in the early 1970?s.
The 4-H Local Leaders Association comprises volunteers (mainly teachers) who are the main adult leaders of the 60 4-H clubs operating at primary and secondary schools, and on community level all over Dominica. The main focus of the 4-H programme is agriculture (plant and animal rearing); citizenship, local craft production, additionally agro-processing, and environmental projects are also popular among the 4-H clubs.
The Association meets approximately 6 times annually for national or district leaders meetings, to evaluate past activities, for training, and to plan for upcoming projects.
With assistance from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs through the Youth Development Division, the club leaders are trained in leadership skills, project identification, development and implementation. An allocation of approximately $40,000 from the National budget is for 4-h club work.
The 4-H slogan ?Learning by Doing? encourages the effective utilization of land surrounding the school buildings and other available areas at home and in the wider community. From the club projects seedlings and other supplies are usually distributed to individual clubites for them to develop home-based projects.

The 4-H Local Leaders Association comprises volunteers (mainly teachers) who are the main adult leaders of the 60 4-H clubs operating at primary and secondary schools, and on community level all over Dominica. The main focus of the 4-H programme is agriculture (plant and animal rearing); citizenship, local craft, agro-processing, and environmental projects are also popular among the 4-H clubs.

The Association meets approximately 6 times annually for national or district leaders meetings, to evaluate past activities, for training, and to plan for upcoming projects.
With assistance from the Ministry of Culture Youth through the Youth Development Division the club leaders are trained in leadership skills, project identification, development and implementation. An allocation of approximately $60,000 from the national budget supports 4-H training, projects and other 4-H activities.

The 4-H slogan ?Learning by Doing? 4-H encourages the effective utilization of land surrounding the school buildings and other available areas at home and in the wider community. From the club projects seedlings and other supplies are usually distributed to individual clubites for them to develop home-based projects.

The Local Leaders with the support of the Youth Development Officers have assisted in planning and accompanied the clubites on several local and regional events - the 4-H Local Dinner Plate Competition supported by the Office of the President and the Bank of Nova Scotia- the fifth annual Competition was held in February 2013. The Dominica 4-H Clubs have also excelled at the three Caribbean 4-H Food Festivals which were held in Dominica, Grenada, and Jamaica.

Competitions and exhibitions are held on district level at the end of each school year to promote the talents/skills of the clubites.


? 3 Project Objectives and Expected Results
To have more young people involved in sustainable agriculture and to have them more actively engaged in environmental conservation.

It has been noticed that if we are not focussed on keeping/encouraging the involvement of the youth in agricultural/environmental activities we will lose many of them along the way. Hence the reason for making those programmes interesting and exciting by providing them with the relevant information and skills, and the necessary resources which will make them gravitate to the respective projects.

The Dominica 4-H Clubs have had a very close relationship with the Agricultural Extension Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, The Extension Officers work closely with the agricultural projects at the schools, however it has become a bit more difficult for them to work at the primary schools- the older students at the primary schools are 10-12 year olds due to the implementation of Universal Education (the Junior Secondary School Programme which existed kept the technical students at the primary schools until age 15). It would therefore be much easier for the students to manage their agricultural and environmental projects if the plots/pens are set up to ease the level of manual work- a well built/equipped poultry shed, fenced vegetable plots, composting shed, and the necessary tools/supplies.

Special focus is usually placed on the school yard and the rest of the environment, and over the years the 4-H Clubs has collaborated with the Environmental Clubs in that area.

Generally there is the need for the youth and adults alike to embrace what we have been blessed with ?our rich fertile soil is a gift which we need to make the best use of-
?Grow what we what we eat and eat what we grow? remains one of the main slogans in our nation?s quest for sustainable agriculture, and the well-being of its populace. This project will help 4-H to play a more meaningful role in this mission. It will foster linkages to national priorities and action plans/programmes of International Conventions. There is a continuous need for all countries, and international organizations (e.g. the Food and Agriculture Organization) to be concerned about food security- hence the reason to always encourage people to go ?back to the land,? and to use all necessary techniques to prepare more nutritious foods on a continuous basis; and at the same time protecting and preserving the environment. There is also the urgent need for the youth to be more involved in agriculture since several of our aged farmers can no longer produce as much as they did in the past.

End Result:
? Members and other youth will be more aware more knowledgeable and environmental problems and more individual in positive action.
? The six junior 4-h clubs at Bellevue, Pichelin, Grand Bay, Tete Morne, Bagatelle and Petite Savanne, with approximately three hundred (300) 8-12 year olds in the southern district, would have more sustainable agricultural projects on club level and at home.