AN INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DESIGNED TO REDUCE RURAL POVERTY AND ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Last updated April 13, 1999

THE PROJECT

The Saint Lucia Rural Enterprise Project (SLREP) is estimated to cost US$4.75 million or EC$12.7 million over a six-year period. The Project is co-financed by the Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) 33%; and from loan funds from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) 20% and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 46%. The beneficiaries are to contribute 1% of the cost of the Project.

PROJECT RATIONALE

The Project was conceptualized as a result of the policies and requirements of the Government of Saint Lucia to address the constraints, which face resource- poor rural households.

These constraints were identified as:

• An inadequate production system for non banana produce, including a lack of water;

• Inadequate cultivation of some areas causing degradation of the natural resource base;

• A weak market support system, including a lack of information;

• Inadequate access to and collateral for credit;

• Community-level difficulty in accessing rural services; and

• Limited institutional capacity.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Project are:

• To offer small holders options to broaden their income base.

• To reduce risk through the encouragement of productive activities

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The strategy of the Project include:

• Strengthening the market for rural services (Extension, Marketing, Credit)

• Maximization of the clients’ participation in Project decision;

• Strengthen the capacity of rural service providers (Ministry of Agriculture, Credit Unions, Marketing Institutions and NGOs).

TARGET GROUP

The Project will target resource-poor households in the southwest and southeast of Saint Lucia. It is estimated that 6,858 families (44 percent women headed) will be identified and selected from communities in the Laborie, Choiseul, Soufriere, Canaries, Vieux-Fort and Micoud areas.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

WHO QUALIFIES FOR PROJECT ASSISTANCE?

The thrust of Project activities will be centred around:-

• Farm families on marginal lands not exceeding 5 acres. At least 50% of the income of these families should be derived from agriculture or related activities;

• Landless farmers who rear livestock;

• Rural women-headed households and/or women farmers;

• Unemployed/under-employed youth; and

• Rural-households whose annual per capita income falls below EC$3,000;

• Small-sale fisher-folk who are either full-time in fishing or have at least two years fishing experience. In any event the beneficiary should not already be a boat owner.

PROJECT COMPONENTS

The Project comprises the following components:

• Production
• Marketing
• Credit
• Community Development and Mobilization
• Project Coordination and Monitoring

PRODUCTION COMPONENT

The Production Component will offer support to resource-poor rural households in a wide range of productive activities, which are environmentally sound, and market oriented in an attempt to broaden and diversify their income base.

This Component involves the following sub-components

• Crop Development: (Plant propagation, Micro Irrigation, Research and Extension and Institutional Strengthening).

• Livestock Development: A Breeder Multiplication and Disposal Programme, Research and Extension and Institutional Strengthening).

• Micro-Enterprise Development: (Funds will be available for agro-processing, production of crafts, eco-tourism facilities, fish processing, cocoa bean processing).

MARKETING COMPONENT

The Marketing Component will link resource-poor rural households’ production including incremental crop and livestock production under the Project, to existing market opportunities.

The Marketing Component involves the following sub-components:

• Market Information and Promotion: (I.C.E. Programme)

• Institutional Strengthening

• Financial Strengthening and Training

CREDIT COMPONENT

The objective of the Credit Component is to assist resource-poor rural households to access credit for project related activities. This component will also seek to strengthen the market for rural financial services, both on the supply and demand sides.

The Credit Component involves the following sub-components:-

• Financial Services, (SLDB, NRDF, Credit Unions).

• Institutional Strengthening (TAG, CCUs)

• Business Skills Development (Training provided by NRDF).

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT

The Community Development Component will mobilize rural resource-poor households at the community level for participation in the Project. This component also seeks to promote Project activities among the target population in a creative and culturally relevant way.

The main strategy of the Community Development Component is the establishment and support of Community Implementation and Advisory Committees (CIACs) for implementing and monitoring projects at the community level.

The Community Development Component has the following sub-components:-

• Institutional Strengthening of CIACs

• Project Promotion.

COORDINATOR