Resilience of the agricultural sector against the effects of climate change does not only refer to adapted cropping practices or improved land use. It also includes the strengthening and capacity building of small businesses along the value chain which use agricultural raw materials and add value for the end consumer. Only a holistic approach and the strengthening of all stakeholders involved can create a resilient agricultural sector.Following this understanding, the CATS Programme has partnere...

The Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions (CATS) Programme works with a number of governmental agencies and groups in selected watersheds across three focal countries in the Eastern Caribbean to improve research and data collection for environmental management. Best practices and effective monitoring of environmental parameters is hinged on accurate and reliable data for timely decision making. The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is revolutionizing how these critical datasets and monitoring ...

On the occasion of the World Biodiversity Day on May 22nd, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) hosted a fair on Morne Fortune, Castries, and invited various organisations from all over Saint Lucia to create awareness and consciousness about the importance of local and global biodiversity.Under the theme "Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health", almost twenty exhibitors showed their projects and products and how biodiversity affects their work. The Caribbean Aqua-Terrest...

On Friday, Apr 12th, 2019, the Fond St. Jacques Development Committee hosted a Business Simulation Exercise for two agro-processing businesses located in Fond St. Jacques, Soufriere: Jacq-Co Valley Products Ltd. and Rainforest Foods. The exercise was conducted by professionals of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), namely by Dr. M. Lashley, Ms. Faye Henry, Ms. M.L. Catty and Mr. E. Ottley.The exercise, also referred to as a Micro Business Game, has been developed as “a highly i...

On October 16th, 2018, the CATS programme took part in the Saint Lucian TV talk show "What's happening now - with Laura". Our CATS colleague Dr. Camille David, expert for coastal and marine systems, discussed with several stakeholders from the Soufriere Watershed in Saint Lucia, how sustainable management and development of a watershed can be achieved. Alongside Dr. David, important partners to the CATS programme were on the show, such as the GEF UNDP Small Grants Programme , IWEco, Fruitage Jeu...

TAMCC students consult facilitator during lunch break at Natural Pest Control training at the farm of Evans Gooding of NEFO Farmers Saint Lucia has been conducting many training sessions on non-chemical use within the agricultural sector.  These have been facilitated by Agronomist, Thaddeus Constantine of the Ministry of Agriculture.  Several private and public sector entities within the State have also benefitted from the technical expertise of Mr. Quint Odlum, on the installation and appl...

Participants learn various skills associated with mushroom cultivation and pure culture During the week of March 6th 2017, Nick Troubetzkoy’s Emerald Farm of Jade Mountain/Anse Chastanet  hosted a training for farmers in Mushroom Cultivation.  This initiative was birthed during discussions of the Emerald Farm Manager, Dr. Pawan Srivastava, with project partners, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions (CATS) Programme which is implemented jointly by the Ger...

From November 16 to 20, 2015, the CATS-Programme organized an Environmental Awareness and Communications Training in Saint Vincent. 20 participants from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Industry, Forestry & Fisheries, and other institutions participated at the one week training sessions. The team of trainers – Candice Ramessar and Carolyn Walcott – facilitated the sessions on environmental education and communication practices. The training was c...

Thaddeus Constantin, Agronomist at the Ministry of Agriculture On September 15th 2015 a training workshop for female farmers had been organised in collaboration of the Belle Vue Farmers’ Cooperative and the Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions Programme. The session focused on Natural Pest Control and showed farmers which pesticides they can “cook” with natural ingredients found in their immediate environment. Read more...