Project Detail

Growing and diversifying a community sea moss enterprise to a sustainable community and national enterprise with export capacity in the village of Praslin, Saint Lucia.

This project will transform a small community enterprise into a national industry through the development of the production, processing, marketing, and sale of sea moss and its by-products to local and overseas markets. The project will also establish a water quality monitoring system which will help to design interventions which reduces coastal pollution from land based sources. The project objectives are to: (i) establish an environmental monitoring system which will assist in maintaining water quality in the Praslin Bay within six months of project commencement;
(ii) develop and implement an environmental awareness and education programme which will contribute to improving and maintaining the environmental quality in the Praslin Watershed and reduce praedial larceny; (iii) improve the drying and bleaching process and reduce the impact of disasters in order to minimize loss and achieve consistent quality within six months of project commencement; (iv) reduce and minimize reliance on fossil fuel as a source of energy within six months of project commencement; (v) significantly upgrade the processing plant and diversify the product line in order to reach a wider market within one year of project commencement;
(vi) achieve HACCP Certification and implement national standard for sea moss cultivation and processing in St. Lucia within one year of project commencement; (vii) improve the capacity of the PSFA and the capability of its members to optimally manage a modern sea moss enterprise;
(viii) revise and improve the current business plan for the period 2014-2020 which will transform the PSFA into a modern market and community oriented organization; and (ix) document the project implementation and management process to produce and publish a case study for dissemination by the end of the project.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Praslin Seamoss Farmers Association

Country:

Saint Lucia

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity
Climate Change Mitigation
International Waters

Operational Phase:

Phase 5

Grant Amount:

US$ 90,962.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 77,527.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 6,382.00

Project Number:

STL/SGP/OP5/Y3/STAR/BC/14/04

Start Date:

6/2014

End Date:

7/2017

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

An integral part of the project is to increase the community's awareness of the detrimental impact of agro-chemicals on water quality.

Gender Focus

Equal opportunity to men and women will be given through affirmative action based on the principle of equity.

Linkages gef projects

Has been included as part of the BIG GEF Number 9406 project for Saint Lucia. The Praslin Seamoss agro-processing facility is expected to receive significant funding from this project.

Planning non gef grant

No determination has been made.

Planning gef grant

No. It is however expected to be included in an OP 6 Medium Size grant for the East to South East coast of Saint Lucia.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Not applicable.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

Not applicable.

Replication of project activities

The entire project is well documented and a video was produced to communicate the results. A case study should also be planned in the future to help share the results and the lessons learned.

Capacity - Building Component

The grantee will be trained in project management, water quality monitoring, processing, production, use of solar power, marketing and that which is required to ensure that the factory becomes and retains its HACCEP certification.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project has a substantial livelihoods component in this community of high poverty. The project will help the grantee create a number of permanent and part time jobs for its members and community people.

Notable Community Participation

The project will consult with and include all stakeholders who are relevant to project success from the community, the private sector and the Government.

Project sustainability

This project was designed with long term sustainability in mind. There was a water quality monitoring component; the preparation of a business plan, as well as a succession plan; the procurement and ordering of new manufacturing equipment; the use of solar energy; the development of secondary products for sale e.g. 8 varieties of drinks and body products; the testing of potential bio-fertilizers; the acquisition of HACEP certification; and the accessing of new markets. The promise of a sustainable income source for farmers was a major indicator of sustainability.

Policy Influence

This project when fully operational will demonstrate the success of agro-processing within a rural environment and could lead to policy changes. For example, provision of incentives for micro to medium economic enterprises.

Policy Impact

To be determined.

Project Results

This project has consolidated the base for the sustainable production and agro-processing of sea moss along the Eastern and South Eastern Coast of Saint Lucia. The following results illustrated the impact:

Environment:

(i) Baseline water quality in Praslin Bay determined which is the basis for the establishment of an
environmental monitoring system and an indicator of sea moss quality;
(ii) Agro-processing facility improved and processing sea moss products more efficiently through
the introduction of modern equipment;
(iii) Carbon footprint of the seamoss factory reduced significantly through the solarisation of the
entire factory (10 Kw PVC System); and
(iv) Members of the grantee have understood the link between high quality seamoss and
environmental quality.

Economic:

(i) Sixteen persons (8 women and 8 men) employed in areas such as construction, engineering,
electrical, grounds keeping, and planting and harvesting, which earned them a total of US$1671
(US$278 ? women; US$1393 ? men) by the end of the project; and
(ii) A total of 12,195 Kg. of sea moss gel and raw sea moss was produced by the end of the project
which generated US$6253 in gross revenue.

Capacity Development:

(i) Forty-six persons (25 women & 21 men) were trained in water quality testing, testing of a sea
moss based bio-fertilizer, planting and harvesting of sea moss, manufacturing of body products
from sea moss (7 members), and the basics of business planning; and
(ii) Community members were exposed to environmental management issues though presentations
by CARPHA.

The grantee has documented several lessons as follows: (i) there is a consultation imperative with professional agencies during the design phase of the project to enable better planning and allocation of resources; (ii) continuous informing and educating of members to avert unnecessary suspicion and criticism of the executive; and (iii) using group dynamics and communication techniques to prevent outside forces from breaking up the group and sowing disunity.

This project has a strong base and the next step is to aspire towards HACEP certification and a processing plant which operates on a daily or weekly basis.

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