The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) has formally handed over a shipment of climate-resilient agricultural equipment to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Forestry and Marine Resources in Grenada.
The equipment, comprising irrigation systems, shade houses, and solar-powered pumping units, arrived in a 40-foot container valued at more than US$114,000.
The handover was conducted by Trevor Thompson, Project Manager, who presented the items to Allison Haynes, National Focal Point and Chief Agronomist within the Ministry of Agriculture. The support forms part of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) multicountry soil management initiative for Integrated Landscape Restoration and Climate Resilient food systems under the SOILCARE Project – Phase 1.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the delivery represents a major investment in strengthening climate-resilient agriculture and enhancing land and water management across key farming communities in Chambord, St Patrick, Belair, and Dumfries.
Under the SOILCARE intervention, irrigation equipment has been allocated to Chambord, while Dumfries has received climate-resilient shade house structures. Additionally, a shade house was provided for the Belair Propagation Facility through the Carriacou Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) Project, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and funded by the GEF. This facility will support nursery development and restoration activities at the Government Estate Nursery.
“Chambord, along with Carriacou, was severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl last year. Added to that, these areas continue to face severe land degradation. We are working hand-in-hand with national partners to ensure farmers have the tools, technologies, and support needed to adapt, thrive, secure their livelihoods, and achieve land degradation neutrality,” Thompson noted.
Haynes expressed appreciation on behalf of the Ministry, stating, “The Ministry is highly appreciative of this project and the support being given to our farmers and government institutions to help them become more productive and restore landscapes affected by land degradation.”
The shipment procured by PISLM includes:
- Climate-smart agricultural equipment, including drip irrigation systems
- Climate-resilient shade houses (9m x 32m / 576 m²) designed to reduce heat stress and protect crops from extreme weather, including roofing and parafence materials to enhance durability
- 2 solar-powered irrigation pumps, complete with solar panels and suction piping, enabling farmers to irrigate crops using renewable, off-grid energy
These materials also support the Integrated Landscape Restoration and Climate-Resilient Food Systems Project in Carriacou, implemented by PISLM with UNEP support.
Headquartered in Grenada, PISLM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers throughout the Caribbean in sustainable land and soil management, enhancing climate-smart production, and reducing vulnerability to drought and extreme weather events.
PISLM
