In a significant move to bolster climate-resilient agriculture, the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) has delivered a substantial shipment of advanced farming equipment to Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Forestry and Marine Resources. The consignment, valued at over US$114,000, arrived in a 40-foot container containing critical resources for sustainable farming practices.
The comprehensive equipment package includes state-of-the-art drip irrigation systems, robust shade house structures measuring 9m x 32m (576 m²), and solar-powered pumping units complete with solar panels and suction piping. These technologies are specifically designed to mitigate heat stress, protect crops from extreme weather conditions, and enable irrigation through renewable, off-grid energy sources.
Project Manager Trevor Thompson formally presented the equipment to Allison Haynes, National Focal Point and Chief Agronomist within the Ministry. This initiative forms part of the broader Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) multicountry soil management program under the SOILCARE Project’s first phase, focusing on Integrated Landscape Restoration and Climate Resilient food systems.
Financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with implementation support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), this investment specifically targets enhanced land and water management across key farming communities in Chambord, St Patrick, Belair, and Dumfries. The strategic distribution plan allocates irrigation equipment to Chambord, climate-resilient shade house structures to Dumfries, and additional support for the Belair Propagation Facility through the Carriacou Integrated Landscape Management Project.
Thompson emphasized the urgency of this intervention, noting that “Chambord, along with Carriacou, was severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl last year. These areas continue to face severe land degradation. We are working hand-in-hand with national partners to ensure farmers have the tools, technologies, and support needed to adapt, thrive, secure their livelihoods, and achieve land degradation neutrality.”
Haynes expressed the Ministry’s appreciation, stating that the support would significantly help farmers and government institutions become more productive while restoring landscapes affected by degradation. The equipment will also facilitate nursery development and restoration activities at the Government Estate Nursery.
Headquartered in Grenada, PISLM reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to supporting Caribbean farmers in sustainable land and soil management, enhancing climate-smart production, and reducing vulnerability to drought and extreme weather events across the region.
