Grenada banking on climate-smart agriculture to tackle poverty

Last updated: November 17, 2017 at 16:29 pm

The government of Grenada has set its focus on increasing food security and reducing poverty through climate-smart agriculture (CSA).

Their efforts are being supported by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

As part of this, the bank and Grenada’s Ministry of Education have handed over a newly refurbished building at TA Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) to the institution’s principal, chairman and dean.

The building at the Mirabeau Campus, which will house the college’s Environmental Sustainability Programme, was fully remodelled at a cost of US$144,000, funded through CDB’s Basic Needs Trust Fund.

“Climate-smart agriculture is not a new buzzword, but rather a very practical approach to strengthening the resilience of ‘Small Island Developing States’ (SIDS) agricultural or food production systems to climate change pressures,” said John Telesford, associate dean at TAMCC’s School of Continuing Education.

“However, in SIDS, research, development and dissemination, or more specifically, applied research, is required. In this way, evidence of the practicality of CSA will be demonstrated, making it easier to scale up, or implement practices proven to be successful on small projects to larger farms. With our new ESP building and equipment, TAMCC is now very well poised to provide this applied research support.”

TAMCC’s Mirabeau Campus was rendered unusable after sustaining severe damage during the 2004 passing of Hurricane Ivan.

Infrastructural works on the building commenced in February 2017 and were completed in June.

Upgrades include a laboratory and classroom, along with toilet facilities and office space.

Since its inception in 1979, the CDB’s Basic Needs Trust Fund has contributed to poverty reduction in targeted communities by providing infrastructure and enhancing the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable in participating countries.