Forty people are being trained under the Pilot Agricultural Land Bank Project to increase sustainable farming and successful agribusiness enterprises.
The Pilot Agricultural Land Bank Project Agribusiness Training Programme is funded by the Government of Grenada and implemented by the Grenada Investment Development Corporation (GIDC).
It specifically targets 38 pre-selected land bank applicants for both Diamond Estate and Grand Bras Estate pilot sites and 2 Extension Officers/Assistants. They will be trained in key areas that will contribute towards successful management and operation of farms/agribusiness enterprises.
This online training will run for 4 weeks and will cover topics such as effective recordkeeping, budgeting, cost and pricing, effective marketing systems, value chain development, risk management and planning, food safety and handling, effective time management, and business plan and grant proposal writing.
Speaking with participants at the virtual opening ceremony this week, Minister for Agriculture Hon. Peter David, said Grenada is one step closer to having new agricultural entrepreneurs use land allocated under the pilot project. “The 2012 census of agriculture showed an overall decrease of land characterised as agriculture land, but there was a simultaneous increase in agricultural lands left idle. This Land Bank Project is a very valuable initiative as it begins to address this issue, bringing agricultural lands that are idle and unproductive into practical and productive use. We can’t afford to leave so much of our agricultural lands untended, and we cannot afford to leave so many of our citizens with idle hands, especially when those hands are seeking land to cultivate,” he remarked.
Senior Vice President of Business Development at the GIDC Khesa Mitchell, said the training would aid participants in successfully starting and growing their businesses.
She said, “Over the next 4 weeks through various facilitators — who will be on board with us at the GIDC — we expect to impart knowledge and skills to the participants of this project to enable them to efficiently and effectively start their agribusiness and farming enterprises. The GIDC wishes to encourage the participants who have been selected under this project, to take advantage of the training to learn as much as you can.”
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is offering technical support under this training. Land Tenure Officer Amparo Cerrato Gevawer applauded Government’s land bank initiative. “We will like to congratulate the government of Grenada for its commitment, for taking a leading role in putting forward this programme which we believe is of great interest to other countries in the Caribbean, as well as for other countries in Latin America,” she said.
Ministry of Agriculture…ensuring food and nutrition security for all
GIS
Oh I was passed up oh yes I’m a government supporter even if I know more than those pre selected there I go again I really need a Green shirt
Amen. Remember Pure Grenada.
Oh, bleep. Those skills you mention are useless if these people don’t know how to actually GROW CROPS!
WHERE is the education for that so that learn not to use commercial fertilizer but compost and eco friendly growing techniques.