The grantee wished to introduce a sustainable form of agriculture to the coastal community of Canaries located at the mouth of the Canaries River - in the Canaries River Valley. The land is privately owned and the plan was to rent, lease and/or receive a deed of donation from the Land owner who is also a member of the group.

The Planning Grant was approved to assist the grantee in determining the suitability of the soils for agriculture, to identify the flora and fauna in the area and to prepare a Full Grant Project Proposal.

The results was the production of two major studies as follows:

(i) Donald Anthony (2014) Flora and Fauna Study of Canaries Estate - Saint Lucia. This study
documented the following species - (i) 150 plant species with the most dominant species in the
forest being the White Cedar (Tabebuia heterophylla); (ii) 8 species of mammals; (iii) 39
species of birds; (iv) 3 species of reptiles; and (v) 3 species of amphibians. The study also
indicated that the Canaries River Valley had a huge potential for ecotourism.

(ii) Julius Polius (2014) Canaries Estate Agro-Tourism Project - Soil Evaluation and Training Report.
The study concluded that the best section of the estate for agriculture was a five-acre block
near the Canaries River. Soil investigations which included laboratory tests revealed that " . . .
the soil fertility is poor. Soil-water relations renders the area drought prone while the low lying
area makes for high flood risk". This component of the project also resulted in the training of
16 persons in basic soil characteristic and conservation.

Economic Impact: Five persons were employed (1 woman and 4 men). Their total income was XCD$ 7, 9999 (US$2963). Of that total XCD$5400 (US$2000) was paid to men and XCD$2600 (US$963) was paid to women.

Capacity Development: 32 persons were trained in areas which included soil conservation and management; and marketing and management.

The project has not evolved into a Full Grant Project Proposal yet, as there is still indecision as to how to proceed. It was recommended that the project focuses on developing an apiculture industry in the area.