1. INTRODUCTION
This issue of the SARD Newsletter marks
the completion of the first quarter of implementation of the G77 SARD Project. So far,
information has been received on 53 innovative projects and/or experiences from 16
countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. This information has been shared with all
network members via the SARD Newsletter. This edition also marks the start of, what is
envisaged as a regular feature, of sharing information on specific elements which can
contribute to SARD. The first topic in this series is Drip Irrigation.
Readers may have observed that crop production, especially vegetable production, formed
the basis for several of the project profiles presented in the December 1998 and January
1999 issues of the SARD Newsletter. Irrigation is essential for successful crop
production, and drip irrigation is especially important for vegetable cultivation.
Readers are invited to suggest other topics for subsequent issues of this
newsletter.
2. COMPLETION
OF QUESTIONNAIRS
During the month of February, no
additional submissions were made of examples of innovative SARD-type projects. As a
result, the total number of completed Format A questionnaires remained at 53 at the end of
February 1999. Completed Format A questionnaires are expected shortly from Grenada and the
Bahamas. Field testing of the Format B questionnaire continued during February and the
revised Format B questionnaire will become available in March. The Format B questionnaire
will be used to compile more detailed information on a selected few of the 53 projects
which submitted Format A questionnaires.
3. SARD NEWSLETTER:
SPANISH EDITION
It has been decided to translate the
SARD Newsletter into Spanish. Spanish-versions of the December and January issues will be
sent by e-mail to network members in Spanish-speaking countries before the middle of
April. Subsequent editions of the Newsletter will be prepared in English and Spanish and
posted on the SARD Web Site.
Please send your ideas on the type of information you would like to see posted on the
proposed Web Site.
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: sard@networksgy.com.
4. AGENCIES
SUPPORTING SARD-TYPE PROJECTS
Request For Information
Once again, we are requesting information on agencies which support activities and
projects addressing Sustainable Agricultural and/or Rural Development in Latin America and
the Caribbean. Information on agencies providing technical and/or financial support to
community-based organisations (CBOs) will be most welcomed.
Kindly complete the self-explanatory form (Box 1) and return to the
Coordinator of the G77 SARD Project via e-mail, fax or regular mail (snail mail).
Click here for contact information.
5. SARD PROJECT WEB SITE
Mr. Paul Bonar (jnr), Web Site
Coordinator, joined our small team in February. A review of several Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) has begun, in order to determine the most appropriate ISP for hosting of
the Web Site. ISPs, both from within and outside of Guyana, are being examined. Selection
of a name for the Web Site (i.e., the name to be assigned to the domain in cyberspace
where the Site will be housed) and the process of registering the site are also in
progress.
We would appreciate your suggestions of a name for the Web Site!
6. INNOVATIVE SARD PROJECTS
Another selection of profiles, taken from projects which have been submitted as examples
of innovative experiences of Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development, is presented
in Table 1. To date, including those in the current issue, 26 profiles
from 13 Caribbean and Latin American countries have been shared with you
our readers. This represents 49% of the submissions to date and includes
projects as varied as credit, natural resources management, livestock production, food
production and organic crop production.
7. DRIP IRRIGATION
Simple, Low-Cost System
Adequate irrigation is essential for successful, year-round cultivation of a wide variety
of vegetable crops. However, because of the high cost of equipment, the acquisition of
supplemental irrigation cannot be afforded by numerous small-scale, low-income farmers.
Such farmers rely primarily on rainfall. Ready access to water for irrigation, therefore,
is essential for sustainable crop production.
A low-cost (US$10), micro-drip irrigation bucket kit produced and
distributed by The Chapin L W Foundation is an affordable irrigation system for many
small-farmers.
The simple, gravity-fed system consists of 2, 4 or 6 lines of drip tape (total of 30 m or
98.4 ft) connected to a bucket suspended 1 m (3.3 ft) above the vegetable bed. Water is
poured into the bucket, passes through a filter, fills the drip tape, and is evenly
distributed to 100 watering points. By filling the bucket twice each day, a small
kitchen garden can be adequately watered. For larger areas, several bucket kits can
be setup to provide adequate watering or a 0.1 ha (1/4 acre) system with larger storage
tanks can be purchased.
The irrigation bucket kit can make year-round, self-sufficiency in vegetable production a
reality for many home gardeners and small-scale farmers. Additionally, the system
minimises water use and reduces the labour requirements. These systems are widely used in
Africa and are now being introduced to Guyana and other countries of the Caribbean.
Additional information on this low-cost, micro-drip irrigation system can be
obtained from:
Dick Chapin,
368 N Colorado Avenue, Watertown, NY 13601, USA.
E-mail: rchapinw@imcnet.net
Stan Doerr or Beth Doerr,
1106 Lytle Road, Chickamauga, GA 30307, USA.
E-mail: SDoerr1055@aol.com / BethDAdams@aol.com
Box 1
Request for information on organisations supporting Sustainable Agricultural and Rural
Development (SARD) projects through providing technical and/or financial assistance.
IDENTIFICATION OF AGENCIES SUPPORTING SARD-TYPE PROJECTS
Tick ALL suggestions that apply to the named
agency. |
| 1. |
Name of organisation/agency:
……………………………………………………………………………………
|
| 2. |
Type of organisation/agency.
Governmental ( ); Non-governmental ( ); Rural-based ( );
National ( ); Regional (within the same country) ( );
Regional (among several countries) ( ); International ( );
|
| 3. |
Type of projects supported: Economic ( ); Agricultural ( ); Health ( ); Cottage industry ( );
Artisan/craft production ( );Environmental ( ); Cultural ( ); Credit ( ); Other (please
specify)
…………………………….…….…..
|
| 4.. |
Type of beneficiaries
supported: Rural communities ( ); Rural women ( ) ;
Rural youths ( ), Community groups ( ); Indigenous people ( );
Other (please specify)
……………………..………………………………..
|
| 5. |
Type of assistance provided:
Technical assistance/personnel ( );
Financial ( ); Institutional strengthening ( );
Other (please specify)
……………………………………………………………..………….
|
| 6.. |
For agencies offering financial
assistance:
a) is the assistance in the form of loans ( ); grants ( );
Other (please specify)
…………………………………..?
b) what is the magnitude of the financial assistance?
less than US$1,000 ( ), US$1,000 –10,000 ( ), US$10,000 –20,000 ( ), more than
US$20,000 ( )
|
| 7. |
Does the Agency require the use
of a specific Application Form or Format when assistance is requested?
Yes ( ); No ( ); Sometimes ( );
|
| 8. |
Agency accepts applications
from: Public Sector ( ); Organised Groups ( ); Individuals ( ); Cooperatives ( );
Other (please
specify)………….…………………………………………………………………………
|
| 9. |
Time normally taken to approve
application ( ……….………....) or to refuse application
(…………...…….….)
|
| 10. |
GENERAL COMMENTS
(additional relevant information):
………..………………
……….……………………………………………………………………………………………..……………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..
|
| 11. |
Please give name and contact
address (e-mail, fax, telephone) of a representative of the agency who will be able to
provide additional information.
……………………………………………………….………………………….………………................…
……………………………………………………….………………………….………………................…
|
|
Thank you
for your time! |
|
Table 2 Examples of
Experiences/Projects of Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development in Latin America
and the Caribbean.
Name of Project |
Type of Project |
Direct Beneficiaries |
Indirect Beneficiaries |
Areas of Impact ** |
| Econ. |
Soc. |
Instit. |
Tech. |
Env. |
| Columbia: Diffusion and
Demonstration of Sustainable Crop and Livestock Production at the National Level. |
Crop production, livestock
production, institutional strengthening, human dev. |
200,000 producers public &
private sector technicians |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Costa Rica: Treatment
Plant and Utilisation of Industrial Residues. |
Natural resources management,
livestock production |
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Equador:
Cultivation of blackberry. |
Natural resources
management, crop prod., tech. dev./transfer |
33 producers (22
men, 11 women) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Guyana: Crop
production, livestock production, human dev. |
Crops, environment,
marketing. Human development |
5,400 persons (all
residents) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trinidad & Tobago: Pinto
Road Women's Group. |
Craft production, human
development |
13 women |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trinidad &
Tobago: Paramin Women's Group. |
Food processing,
human development |
7 women |
|
|
|
|
|
|
** Econ. = Economic; Soc.
= Social; Instit. = Institutional;
Tech. = Technological; Env. = Environmental
PARTICIPATION IN SARD NETWORK
Become an active participant in our SARD Network! Your participation can
be by way of identifying examples of innovative SARD experiences and/or agencies which
support SARD activities. Additionally, please send your ideas on the type of information
you would like to see posted on the proposed Web Site. The SARD Project at IICA's Guyana
Office can be contacted via:
|
