Aquaponics steering committee formed

Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:

Forty members of community groups and schools in western Jamaica recently benefited from another seminar in the aquaponics systems and technical training workshop series under the Jamaica Adaptive Agricultural Programme (JAAP), an initiative of INMED Caribbean, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The JAAP focuses on climate-change adaptation, specifically, the raising of awareness of climate-change impact among farmers and other stakeholders. Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (soil-less crop production).

According to project director of INMED Caribbean, Paul Barrett, the specific objectives of the workshop were to strengthen the "adaptive" capacity of the beneficiaries to enable them to assume a leadership role in income generation and sustainability of the project.

"One specific objective was to increase the confidence of the beneficiaries by providing them with marketing kits and training through role play. They were provided with brochures, fliers, labels, and business cards to strengthen their marketing skills. In fact, the Youth In Action group used their skills and training later that evening and approached three supermarkets and were successful in making sales and having orders to fill," Barrett, a former Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard officer, told Western Focus.

"The other specific objective of the workshop focused on sustainability by encouraging the formation of an aquaponics association. A seven-member steering committee was established to formulate the mandate, set of rules and constitution of the association. They have the responsibility of ensuring the registration of the association through the application process guided by the Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies," he added.

Major facilitators at the workshop included Marketing Manager of Fontana Pharmacy Erica Stephenson, who conducted the marketing component of the workshop, which focused on "using a marketing kit effectively". JAAP Project Manager Griffin Gray focused on packaging and labelling, while Celloney Bailey of the St James Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies gave a presentation on how to form an association.

Barrett said the proposed aquaponics association was expected to be the central body through which beneficiaries of the JAAP and other aquaponics farmers and groups may interface, organise and coordinate marketing, obtain additional support and otherwise network in their endeavours.

He said at least one other workshop was being planned by INMED for July, to invite micro-financiers who might be able to assist the groups with additional funding or expansion of operations. This workshop would precede the 'Harvest the Future' International Aquaponic Conference, which is slated to be held in September in Montego Bay.