A new initiative focused on merging agricultural sustainability, farmer well-being and inclusive capacity building is set to launch across Dominica’s Central Agricultural Region, after local environmental organization Eco Balance Inc. formalized a grant partnership on September 2, 2026. Eco Balance’s ‘Greening Farms’ Project, backed by a XCD $33,918.17 grant from the Dominica National Conservation Trust Fund (DNCTF), will run for 12 months, with core goals of cutting the environmental footprint of local farming, boosting farmer safety and resilience, and expanding the professional capacity of small-scale producers in target communities.
The project integrates evidence-based environmental management with hands-on practical support tailored to the specific needs of local producers. Initial work will include systematic baseline soil mapping and runoff risk assessments to generate granular environmental data that will guide future sustainable land management decisions across the project area. Beyond data collection, the initiative will deliver ergonomic, purpose-built farming equipment including lightweight weeders and brush cutters, alongside mandatory training on safe equipment operation and long-term maintenance for all participating producers.
To advance circular agricultural practices, the project will establish five community composting systems, paired with hands-on workshops that teach farmers actionable composting skills. Complementing these structured training sessions, monthly peer-to-peer learning gatherings will create a collaborative space for producers to share on-the-ground experiences, successful techniques and problem-solving approaches adapted to local conditions. Recognizing the linguistic diversity of Dominica’s farming communities, Eco Balance will also publish a bilingual best-practices manual in both English and Kweyol, creating a accessible, culturally relevant reference resource aligned with local needs.
A central priority of the initiative is addressing the unique challenges faced by women farmers in the region, who disproportionately bear the burden of physically demanding manual farm labor. The project specifically targets participation from 15 women affiliated with the Central Universal Farmers Group, alongside additional interested women producers, inviting them to join composting training and monthly peer learning exchanges. All 15 participating women will also complete targeted capacity-building sessions focused on the safe use of new ergonomic equipment, which was specifically selected to reduce physical strain. The lightweight, battery-powered tools are designed to lower the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive stress injuries, common long-term health issues for women engaged in manual farming work.
Multiple regional and international partners have backed the project, alongside lead funder DNCTF. Supporting stakeholders include the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), German Development Bank (KfW), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and CUSO International. In a statement following the grant agreement signing, Eco Balance representatives emphasized that the project represents a rare opportunity to align multiple community-level priorities: advancing critical environmental conservation goals, improving farmer health and safety, scaling up sustainable land management practices, and ultimately boosting long-term agricultural productivity for small producers. The organization extended gratitude to all funding partners for their support, and noted that it is preparing to collaborate closely with local farmers and stakeholder groups throughout the 12-month implementation period to deliver meaningful, lasting impact across the region.