Project Detail

The Introduction of Aquaponics and Organic Farming Systems for the Sustainable Production of Fish and Plant Produce at the Boys' Training Centre in Massade, Grois Islet., Saint Lucia

This project targets young boys who have contravened local laws and have been sent to the Boys Training School for Rehabilitation. The project's goal is to "rehabilitate and empower targeted youth through the establishment of a sustainable environmentally conscious farming system". The objectives are to: " (i) design and implement an organic farming system which can serve as a production and learning facility; (ii) design and implement a capacity development program which will develop knowledge and skills for the mentors which can lead to certification for some of the beneficiaries; and (iii) document the entire process using appropriate methods which will enable the storage and ease of access to data". By the end of the project it is expected that there will be a fully managed aquaponics facility producing organic produce through a process which provides job training and assist the boys in becoming gainfully employed citizens of Saint Lucia.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Third Sector Development Foundation Inc.

Country:

Saint Lucia

Area Of Work:

Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

Phase 5

Grant Amount:

US$ 45,553.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 32,800.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 14,556.00

Project Number:

STL/SGP/OP5/Y4/CORE/LD/15/03

Start Date:

6/2015

End Date:

7/2017

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Linkages gef projects

None at this time.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Not applicable

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

Not applicable.

Policy Impact

Not applicable.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Not applicable.

Planning non gef grant

Not at this time in the project life span.

Gender Focus

The beneficiaries are all young boys who were either abandoned and in some cases contravened the law.

Notable Community Participation

The grantee consulted with project beneficiaries, various departments of the Government of Saint Lucia, independent resource persons and other partners which included the USAID and the OECS.

Project sustainability

The project sustainability is based on the integration of the aquaponics facility into the grantee's education programme; a sustainable production process, i.e., of vegetables and fish for use and sale; and above all, the availability of the human resources to manage the facility and the involvement of the wards. Whereas the first two sustainability requirements were met, the final one was not. To address this human resource issue, the NSC has taken a more direct interest in the project and meetings are being held with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Equity.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

There is potential for the production and sale of organic produce, but this will be dependent on the level of production attained.

Policy Influence

There were no policy influences.

Capacity - Building Component

Three members of the grantee group will seek certification training at the Aquacultural Experimental Station at the University of the Virgin Islands while another 30 persons are expected to be trained in areas directly related to the management of an aquaponics facility

Planning gef grant

Too early to state.

Replication of project activities

Until the deficit in human resources is addressed, it will be difficult for this project to become successful as it can be. It is only then that the probabilities for replication will increase significantly.

Project Results

This project at its closure met only some of its objectives and not the main one, i.e., the effective and sustainable management of the aquaponics system. A recent visit by representatives of the NSC revealed that the main problem was the lack of human resources to manage the farm, on which there is a hydroponics facility established by the OECS Juvenile Justice Programme, a chicken hatchery managed by the Boys Training Centre, and the aquaponics facility funded by the GEF SGP UNDP and managed by the Third Sector Development Foundation. With this realisation, the NSC requested a meeting with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, and after two meetings, it was agreed that a consultant will be funded from the funds remaining from the OECS and GEF SGP Projects, which is approximately XCD$19,000. The goal of the consultancy is to produce an agro-production and business management plan for review and approval by the stakeholders (Ministry of Equity; Boys Training Centre; OECS; GEF SGP UNDP; SSDF etc) and for immediate implementation by the Ministry of Equity.

At the formal end of the project the following outputs were achieved:

? Environment:
(i) Aquaponics facility system established, fully operational and producing both fish and
vegetables; and
(ii) Rainwater harvesting system improved (>10,000 gallons of capacity)

? Economic:
(i) 13 men were employed to assist with farming, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, cleaning of
the water tanks, and driving. They earned a total of US$4812.00.

? Capacity Development:
(i) 12 persons (4 women and 8 men) were trained in a variety of areas which included project
management, design and operations of an aquaponics facility, record keeping and photo voltaic.

The grantee experienced a number of challenges which included theft of supplies, inconsistent support from technical persons in the Ministry of Agriculture, and a significant turnover of senor staff which slowed down project implementation.

This project though officially ended, continues with direct involvement of the NSC, because its contribution to the BTC cannot be allowed to fade to nothing.

(A final statement will be added later).

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