Second Phase of Extension Strengthening Project Gets Underway

Contact: John Emmanuel

Friday, February 11, 2000 – As the changing focus of St. Lucia’s agricultural diversification drive continues, an eighteen-month project seeking to strengthen persons involved in the delivery of extension services is to move into its second phase this week.

This second phase follows the hosting of a three-day workshop last week that dealt with designing the project’s implementation plan. Director of Agricultural Services Julius Polius says beyond that a series of activities will get underway in coming months.

"There’s going to be a major PRA exercise and by that I mean Participatory Rural Assessment Exercise where consultants are going to come in and work with the extension officers and go into the communities to assess needs. Following that assessment of need we are going to tailor our programmes to address those needs. Every thing has to be needs driven and we can no longer work from the office. We need to work at the end with the farmer where we answer his needs to direct the production in a manner that is sustainable and also of some benefit to the farmer," Polius says.

Consultants for the project are due here next month to work with local personnel. They will conduct between four to five consultancies dealing with issues like organic production, information systems technology, marketing and production systems.

Mr. Polius says the overall aim of the initiative is to reposition farmers and ultimately the agricultural sector. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is sponsoring the project that is costing over one million dollars.

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