The Challenge Fund for Agriculture (CFA) is moving forward to ensure that farmers receive their disbursements to begin implementing water-efficient solutions on their farms.
This initiative will lay the groundwork for a more resilient agriculture sector, by minimising adverse environmental impacts while conserving water, a precious resource.
The CFA is one of the outputs of the Climate-Resilient Water Sector in Grenada (G-CREWS) project, jointly financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) under its International Climate Initiative (IKI), and the Government of Grenada (GoG). It is being implemented by the Grenada Development Bank (GDB) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.
The CFA promotes the adoption of water-efficient solutions in the agriculture sector through the use of grants to facilitate water audits, solution design and implementation, including incentivising the purchase of water-efficient equipment.
Thus far, water audits of more than 220 farms have been conducted, and the presentation of project designs to farmers in each agricultural district commenced in 2023. During sessions held directly with the audited farmers, they were provided with these designs, detailed technical specifications, bill of quantities, and cost estimates resulting from the audit of their farms, together with a letter of commitment, the procurement procedures, and the contract award form.
Disbursements commenced in earnest in February 2024 for rainwater harvesting equipment to approved farmers. Farmers who have been approved for rainwater harvesting grants are asked to submit updated supplier quotations together with the required accompanying documentation to the Ministry of Agriculture for review, and approval. The ministry is currently reaching out directly to farmers on this, as well as to the remaining farmers whose water audits are to be conducted.
The bulk procurement framework for the purchase of irrigation equipment has recently been tendered and it is anticipated that a contract will be issued within one month for the equipment. To the farmers who have been approved for shade houses, an update will be provided soon.
Beneficiary farmers can contact the Ministry of Agriculture or the Grenada Development Bank at the following telephone numbers for information related to this project:
- Ministry of Agriculture: 415-1980, 440-2708 (extension numbers 26833 or 26834)
- Grenada Development Bank: 404-2026, 440-2382 (extension number 305)
GDB
The cost of pipe water is so high is so high and flow so sporadic in Grenada that there is hardly a need for these measures.
Since when everything we do in Grenada has to be called climate smart. What next before they start telling us about climate smart jab jab and climate smart bedwork?