1. INTRODUCTION
In this issue of the SARD Newsletter, as
part of the series of success stories in SARD, we feature another three projects. These
projects were undertaken by a group of youth producers in Dominican Republic, a
women’s agro-processing enterprise in Trinidad, and, the third project outlines the
system for producing certified seeds for Guyana’s rice industry.
Also presented are four recently-added web sites which are relevant to this SARD
project and which can be accessed from the link page of the SARD web site. As promised in
the September 1999 issue, additional information is presented on the preparation of case
studies in the final phase of this project.
Please print and
photocopy this
newsletter and circulate to persons
working with (or interested in)
agricultural and/or rural
development projects. |
SUCCESS STORIES IN AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
2. YOUTH PRODUCERS OF SALCEDO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The potential of youths as future world
leaders is often touted, but, in many instances youths are not afforded adequate
opportunities to foster their development. In Nueva Ranacer, Salcedo Dominican Republic,
however, there has been a concerted effort to change this through an association which has
executed a collection of 16 projects in Salcedo. Since 1984, 500 youths, (35% of whom are
females) have benefited from these projects in areas such as the strengthening of rural
youth organisations, income generation and the provision of employment for young people.
Training has been provided, productive livestock activities and rural agro-industrial
micro-enterprises have been established and credit has been made accessible to many
youths. The project, which received financial support from the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), is administered by the National Foundation for the
Development of Rural Youths (FUNDEJUR).
In three provinces, Barahona, San Juan and Comendador-Elías Piña, attention was given to
self-improvement of youths and credit was facilitated at interest rates varying between 12
% and 18% per annum. An important contributor to development of the young producers was
the establishment of a community production centre which provided a platform for the
beneficiaries to develop their own means of production. This collection of projects which
has impacted on the economic and social aspects of the lives of the young beneficiaries is
a model which can be implemented in other communities.
3. PARAMIN WOMEN’S GROUP AGRO-PROCESSING ENTERPRISE
Many projects seeking to improve the
quality of life of beneficiaries target large numbers of persons, ranging from a few dozen
to several thousands, others, however, feel there is richness in small numbers. An
agro-processing project which started 15 years ago (1984), and is ongoing, was initiated
by a small group of only seven women in Trinidad and Tobago.
Using the processing of herbs and vegetables as a base, this group of women in Paramin
process and market condiments. Sales from the condiments have contributed towards a 50%
increase in household income.
The project required not only the use of innovative land and profit sharing arrangements
but also cooperation among and between all participants. Among the many benefits received
by the participants are the acquisition and improvement of their skills in
agro-processing, micro-enterprise management and marketing. This group of women has
demonstrated that with a willingness to pursue clearly defined objectives and an eagerness
to acquire new skills, persons can improve their quality of life and develop a sustainable
livelihood. In addition, the experience illustrates that through training and investment a
group can be channeled into a successful commercial enterprise.
4. PRODUCTION OF CERTIFIIED SEED FOR GUYANA’S RICE INDUSTRY
In Guyana, approximately 5,000 of the country’s rice farmers are registered seed
growers. Their seed paddy production satisfies the national requirement of 200,000 bags of
seed paddy per season. The system for producing certified seeds for Guyana’s rice
industry involves the use of the rice research station, Guyana Rice Development Board
(GRDB), which produces 10,000 to 15,000 bags of basic seed each season (Figure 1). Farmers
who have been registered as seed growers purchase basic seed (1-10 bags) from GRDB’s
facility and sow these seeds in 0.4 -4 ha plots (1-10 ac). From each bag of basic seeds
farmers can harvest 25 bags of Certified 1 seeds (C1 seeds). These C1 seeds are then sold
to other farmers who sow them to produce C2 seeds. The use of C2 seeds by farmers for the
production of grain has resulted in a lower incidence of weeds in farmers’ fields. In
the case of a specific weed (red rice) a more than five-fold reduction was obtained.
Since Guyana exports a large percentage of its rice production, it is important that high
quality seeds be used so as to produce high quality grain. The previous practice of
farmers recouping seeds from their farms for use in subsequent crops resulted in the
harvested grain containing large quantities of weeds. Consequently, milled rice was of a
poorer than desired quality.
This project demonstrates the importance of capacity building through the provision of
technical support to farmers, and the training of farmers in the production of certified
seeds. In addition, education of farmers and technicians on the importance of using
certified seeds for the production of rice all contributed to improvement of the national
capacity to produce high quality rice, for local consumption and for export.
Figure
1 Seed Certification System In Guyana
|
Production
of 10,000 – 15000 bags of basic seed
(Research Station) |
|
Selling of
basic seed to Registered Seed Growers |
|
Sowing of
basic seeds & harvesting of C1 seeds
(Registered Seed Growers) |
|
Sowing of
C1 seeds & production of C2 seeds
(Approved farmers) |
|
Sowing of
C2 seeds for grain production
(Rice Farmers) |
For
additional information, contact:
|
| Coordinator, G77 SARD Project |
| Tel: |
592-2-68835/68347 |
| Fax: |
592-2-58358 |
| E-mail: |
sard@solutions2000.net |
5. PREPARATION OF CASE
STUDIES
As indicated in the September 1999 issue
of the SARD Newsletter, the proposed themes under which case studies are to be prepared
are:
| 1. |
Export-oriented activities. |
| 2. |
Women. |
| 3. |
Natural Resources Management. |
| 4. |
Youth. |
| 5. |
Services. |
Details for projects in each thematic
area will be obtained using a questionnaire (Format B), which can be viewed on the SARD
Project web site, and discussions with the direct beneficiaries.
Export-oriented projects to be used for the case studies in the final
document are:
| (1) |
Production and
Export of Certified Organic Coffee. (Dominican Republic).
|
| (2) |
Production and
Export of Balata Figurines from Nappi Village (Guyana).
|
| (3) |
Rupununi Weavers
-Wapashiana Hammocks (Guyana).
|
| (4) |
Floriculture
Enterprise. (St Vincent & the Grenadines). |
Women’s projects to be used for the case studies in the final
document are:
| (1) |
Commercialisation
of Grape By-products. (Dominican Republic).
|
| (2) |
Hydroponic Women
Farmers. (Costa Rica).
|
| (3) |
Paramin
Women’s Agro-Processing Enterprise. (Trinidad and Tobago).
|
| (4) |
Women’s of
Goldsborough Food Processors (Trinidad and Tobago).
|
| (5) |
Women in Unity
-Designers and Garment Manufacturers (Trinidad and Tobago)
|
In the next issue of the SARD Newsletter,
information will be provided on the projects which will be used in the remaining three
thematic areas.
6. SARD PROJECT WEB SITE -Link Page Sites
Visitors to the SARD Project web
site can obtain information on some of
the 62 projects which were sent by respondents in 16 countries in the Caribbean and Latin
America. Profiles are grouped according to the type of project, e.g., agriculture, rural
development, and the country in which the project is located.
At present, there are more than 50 related sites which can be accessed from the link page.
Web sites on the link page are grouped according to the type of information they contain,
e.g., agriculture, rural development and sustainable development. Related web sites,
concerned with appropriate technologies and poverty reduction, that can be accessed from
the SARD Project link page, include:
 |
www.netaid.org Web site of NetAid.
NetAid is an initiative supported by UNDP and consists of a network of citizens and
agencies focusing on poverty alleviation worldwide. NetAid uses the Internet as a tool to
help millions of men, women, and children who do not have access to recent advances in
science and technology. The site contains examples, from various parts of the world, of
workable strategies, which can reduce poverty, such as debt relief, protection of the
environment and use of the Internet.
|
|
www.undp.org/sl/Introduction/introduction.htm
This is the web site of the United Nations Sustainable Livelihoods Project.
The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach allows for the poor to be guided on ways in which
they can access reservoirs of wealth, thus allowing them to use their abilities, fulfill
their potential and flourish. This UNDP site is dedicated to providing detailed
information on the Sustainable Livelihoods approach, which includes consideration of
issues such as poverty eradication, employment, civil society and participation and
gender. |
|
www.oneworld.org/cart Web site of the
Center For Appropriate Rural Technologies (CART). Infromation is provided on the
three programmes undertaken by CART in the areas of agriculture, energy and housing. The
agriculture programme deals with low-cost irrigation pumps and vermicomposting and the
housing programme considers low-cost alternatives to conventional permanent roofing.
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7. PARTICIPATE
IN SARD NETWORK
JOIN OUR E_MAIL
DISCUSSION GROUP!!!!!!!
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