REGION 8 BEXON
Ongoing Projection/Workshops in the Region (8)
Activity: Vegetable Grafting Session
Location: Region 8 Conference Room
Audience: Region 8 Vegetable Farmers
This activity was based on sensitizing the farmers about vegetable grafting, its definition, its advantages, and why this practice should be adopted. It was done by the research department (Mr. Johnny Smith) in collaboration with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Region 8 Office on June 22, 2022 at the Region 8 conference room in Cul-de-Sac.
Ten (10) vegetable influential farmers were targeted and a follow-up session with them will be done.
Activity: Rehabilitation of Greenhouse
Location: Cedars, Castries
The Upton Garden Girls Centre got assistance from the Elsa Hurricane Relief programme with the rehabilitaion of their greenhouse structure covering. A private greenhouse specialist (Elvis Herelle ) and his assistant was contracted to completely cover the structure. It was done in one –day. Continous production is anticipated under the structure since the crops are now protected from the elements of the weather.
Newly Established Board Members
A meeting was held on the 21st of June,2022 at the IRDC in Odsan. The Region 8 Farmer’s Co-operative elected a new board with a President (Eddison St. Rose), Vice-President (Nicolai Lansiquot), Secretary (Mernell Chassang), P.R.O (Adiah Bernard), Trustees (Bertha Joseph and Martin Felix), Ann Marie Benoit(Treasurer) and Lawyer (Floretta Nicholas). Two meetings have been held which is geared towards getting the co-operative officially registered.
Breadfruit Pruning
This activity was done due to the vast amount of breadfruit farmers in the region which weren’t pruning and to boost productivity. A practical was done on 28th of July,2022. An amount of twelve farmers were present, at the event. A majority of the farmers were intrigued by the pruning activity, and will continue to practice this method.
Summer Camp
(Agricultural Session)
On the 8th of August, 2022, an agricultural presentation was done at the George Odlum Secondary School Auditorium in Marigot. The staff of Region 8 presented the agricultural component on Food Security in Saint Lucia and a practical session in the planting of lettuce seedlings were done. Fifty (50) students participated in the camp ranging from 6-15 years and hail from the surrounding communities (Millet, Barre Denis, Barre De Chaussee, Roseau, Odsan, Jacmel, Marigot etc.).
Non-Traditional Crop Programme
The Non- Traditional Crop Programme is a pilot project in Region 8 in collaboration with GURU. The first phase of this project was to sensitize the first set of interested farmers to the GURU App Market- Place by informing them about the app and its advantages. This event took place on the 27th of July 2022 at the Orchid Garden Conference Room in Union. Many stakeholders were present including the Produce Manager of Massy (Dunstan Demille), representatives from WUSC (Cindy Eugene and Dean Avril), a representative from IICA, Manager of the Marketing Board (Vincent La Cobinerre), the Chief Extension Officer (Kemuel Jn Baptiste) along with the Farmers and staff of Region 8. The second phase will begin soon.
Fertilizer Distribution
Region 8 received three (3) trucks of fertilizer with four (4) different ratios. Three (3) guys were contracted to assist in the transferring and storing of the bags into the container stationed at IRDC compound in Odsan. Distribution was done on the 08th and 09th of September 2022.