Over two dozen residents including farmers and workers within the Ministry of Agriculture are now better trained in nature and ecosystem-based solutions to enhance resilience.

These men and women were part of a two-day training organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and facilitated by Richard Rampersaud, Value Chain and Agri-business Specialist

The CSA farmer training was a part of the IICA-Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) project.

Its real aim according to the organizers is to “strengthen coastal and marine climate resilience through upland and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation and community engagement implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Tobago”

During the training, a new and simple ‘SEFLIE’ hazard-based and color-coded tool was introduced to farmers.

“The tool is expected to help them self-assess the climate hazards and other farming challenges they face, and score their vulnerability, impact readiness, and adaptive capacity. It was designed to also be useful to farmers with literacy challenges,” according to a statement from the organizers

The farm of Ras Freeman was used for the practical sessions and participants “were able to relate to the importance of situational awareness, by identifying hazards on their farm and its immediate surroundings”.

Meanwhile, three farmers were provided with 800-gallon water tanks.

These men, two from Antigua and one from Barbuda are expected to use the tanks to improve farm water management.