September 16, 1997 - A new fertilizer plant has officially opened its doors to full time production of fertilizer for use in the agricultural industry. S.C.I.C Windward Islands Ltd., a company with over sixteen years of experience operating in the Caribbean, has now teamed up with the National Development Corporation of St. Lucia to establish a plant in Vieux Fort.

The company has introduced to St. Lucia the newest methods in bulk blending of fertilizer, a technology that affords the production fertilizers of varied strengths and formulas. The introduction of the plant here also means that there will be no more importation of the commodity from neighboring Martinique. Company Director, Thierry Gallet De St Aurin says its certainly not a new product to St. Lucia - its the same company who supplies the fertilizer from Martinique.

Traditionally, local farmers for the most part, relied on the availability of a standard formula, that which is used in bananas, in their cultivation of other crops. According to the company's Director this may be no more as much of what will be produced would be dependent on recommendations with regards to crop and soil requirements.

The company promises, that given the environmental factors, a strategic advantage will be the production of a constant supply of high grade fertilizer at a much better price than imported stocks.
The company will not compete with the St. Lucia Banana Growers Association for distribution.

At a time when the WTO ruling has gone against farmers here and one of the recommendations is to reduce the cost of production in bananas the fertilizer plant may very well contribute towards this end.