Georgetown: The Caribbean Local Economic Development Programme (CARILED) in collaboration with the Local Government and Regional Development and several partners has trained 36 farmers in greenhouse technology.
The programme facilitated through the Regional Democratic Council, Region Three and Canal Polders Interim Management Committee (IMC) successfully completed three training sessions with farmers of Canal Polders Number one and two on October 15-16.
This training workshop forms one aspect of the Canal Polders Green Initiative (CPGI) which seeks to provide sustainable economic opportunities and increase farmers’ productive capacity in Canal Polders through the demonstration, application and use of hydroponic technology.
The training workshop encouraged the adoption of hydroponic technology among farmers in order to reduce the high production cost and improve the quality of local produce.
The training sessions were facilitated by Local Economic Development Officers Shivana Persaud and Satya Dayaram as well as Hydro-Green Products Consultant Colwayne Morris.
The training sessions were divided into theoretical and practical sessions that focused on hydroponic farming. The training sessions focused on the advantages of hydroponic farming compared to traditional farming, natural pesticides and disease control, sanitation and maintenance of greenhouse facilities.
The practical sessions gave participants the opportunity to observe and discuss greenhouse features and engage in a demo planting exercise.
Participants were very interested in the hydroponic drip systems, substrates, availability of greenhouse components and access to fin
CARILED National Country Coordinator Dhanraj Singh closed the workshop by noting that “the initiative is timely and will significantly boost the region’s capacity to deal with the challenges of climate change in the local agriculture sector”.
Singh further explained that the Canal Polders Project was meant to demonstrate partnerships between local Government authorities and the Canal Polders residents towards local economic development.
The Canal Polders Green Initiative adopts a Public-Private Partnership approach between local Government authorities and communities that seeks to develop and create jobs in local economies.
The project also targets single mothers who depend on subsistence agriculture and should assist in closing the gender gap within the region.
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