Caribbean

FarmFinder & UNDP collaborate on Blue Economy pilot initiative

Location: BARBADOS

Start Date: December 1, 2021

End Date: December 31, 2021

With emphasis on strengthening the digital integration of stakeholders in the fishing industry, FarmFinder and UNDP are working together to pilot an initiative which will see the initial communication of two separate digital platforms; a test that will enable persons to place orders directly to vendors for a wide variety of fish.

The pilot is focused on testing the interaction between vendors in the fishing industry and purchasers. By examining this relationship, the Blue Accelerator Lab at the UNDP can foster an adaptive learning ecosystem, with the view to improving overall livelihoods through digital literacy and participation.

FarmFinder extends proof of concept with E-Commerce

Location: BARBADOS

Start Date: April 1, 2020

End Date: Ongoing

FarmFinder has realized an increase in online e-commerce activity following two COVID-19 announcements on the island of Barbados, which is now grappling with a surge in confirmed cases.

As one of the first NGOs to roll out e-commerce in the Caribbean to facilitate relief efforts for small farmers, FarmFinder has now established a critical potential standing an avenue for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery in the agricultural sector, with the ability to quickly dispatch items to person in need at the click of a mouse.

Graydon Sealy School Receives Support from FarmFinder

Location: BARBADOS

Start Date: October 20, 2020

End Date: Completed

Teachers of the Graydon Sealy Secondary School received 150 seedlings and technical assistance compliments FarmFinder, in the preparation of their green area on the school compound.

This initiative will focus on adding some level of sustainability to the ongoing operations of the school, with a view to supplying the canteen with some of the regularly used agricultural produce.

Residents of Coverley wake up to gift of 1,000 seedlings

Location: BARBADOS

Start Date: September 26, 2020

End Date: Ongoing

On Saturday September 26th, members and volunteers of FarmFinder ascended on the quiet southern community of Coverley Development in Christ Church with a bounty of 1,000 fresh vegetable seedlings; all destined to be distributed in for free. The package  of seedlings consisted of 100 each Watermelon, Cucumber, Okrah, Butternut Squash, Regular Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Red Lettuce, Green Lettuce, Kale  and Carrots.

This effort forms part of FarmFinder’s overall Southern Belt Food Security Initiative, which aims at strengthening the resilience of farmers and residents in Christ Church, St. George and St. Philip.

FarmFinder / UNDP Covid-19 Response

Location: BARBADOS & OECS

Start Date: August 17, 2020

End Date: Ongoing

FarmFinder and the United Nations Development Programme have partnered to come up with viable solutions to improve livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this global catastrophe, this joint initiative will focus on advancing the digital uptake of economic activity across these digitally marginalized sectors, while also reviewing and enhancing the food traceability system, with a view to ensuring quality in the supply chain.

In this picture, members of FarmFinder and the United Nations Development Programme conduct a joint field assessment on a producer’s operations in Barbados. The assessment is the first step in FarmFinder’s on-boarding process to have producers items marketed on the website. Ares covered in the assessment were:

1. Site Requirements and Location
2. Buildings, Storage and Equipment
3. Personal Hygiene
4. Harvesting, Field Packaging and Product Handling Practices
5. Water Management
6. Storage and Transport
7. Soil Management
8. Waste Disposal
9. Traceability and Record Keeping

The next step in the process focuses on quality assurance and piloting a basic traceability system with the producer, to ensure that he is a better positions to analyze his inputs, while enhancing the quality assurance framework in the supply chain.

10,000 Plus Resilience Initiative

Location: BARBADOS

Start Date: April 1, 2020

End Date: Ongoing

We are pleased to be partnering with the National Conservation Commission and the Nature Fun Ranch in Barbados, for Phase 1 of this pilot 10,000 Plus Resilience (10PR) initiative.

In phase 1, we will be distributing an estimated 10,000 food crop seedlings to over 400 households across Barbados, between April and May 2020. The crop variety will include carrots, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, lettuce and chives. 10PR will also be providing remote technical assistance, in an effort to ensure an adequate transfer of knowledge regarding kitchen gardening basics.