Agribusiness ForumLinking Agrifood Sector To Tourism-Related Markets

Presented by:Ms. Carmen Nurse

President of the Caribbean Network of Rural Women Producers

Antigua & BarbudaBahamas

Dominica Grenada

GuyanaJamaica

St. LuciaSt Kitts &

NevisSt. Vincent &

Surinamethe Grenadines

Trinidad &

Tobago

MISSION

CANROP is the institution that promotes and supports institutional modernization, training and educational cultural exchanges, and specialised information and communication to contribute to the coordinated, competitive and sustainable development of agriculture to contribute in the improvement of rural livelihoods and SME development in Caribbean Region.

Speaks to pillars # 1 and #4 of Decent Work Agenda (DWA).

VISION

To be the unified, viable and sustainable rural women transparent institution based on its trained and informed members supporting developmental needs of the members in achieving the sustainable development of agriculture, promoting food security, reducing poverty and improving the living conditions in the rural territories of the Caribbean.

NETWORK OBJECTIVES

To provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas that rural women producers address the concerns affecting the development of their business.

To create a brand that identifies the goods and services of members with quality products produced by rural women.

To pool resources for the marketing of products produced by members of the organization.

NETWORK OBJECTIVES CONT’ D

To create training programs to maintain and develop the interpersonal, technical, financial and business skills of its members.

To support and promote projects which support rural women producers in the development of their communities.

To access external funding from National and multi-national donor agencies to support national work programs.

To provide a forum that facilitates the discussion of gender equality and equity within the country.

REGISTRATION

Through the initiative of the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) funding was sourced from UN Women to pay for legal services to establish the new bylaws through consultation at Cluster, Chapter and Regional participation for the governance of the organisation.

At present only Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have legally registered under the new bylaws. Lack of funding for legal services was highlighted by other chapters as a major factor for none conformity.

REGISTRATION CONT’D

Measures are already in motion to use the registered National Chapters to pursue the legal registration of CANROP while efforts will continue to get the other Chapters legally incorporated.

Registration certificate and audited accounts are two basic requirements necessary for sourcing funds and to access regional and international markets for increase economic empowerment.

This speaks to Decent Work Agenda (DWA) pillar #1 opportunities for investment.

FUNDING/ WORKSHOPS

Through the technical intervention of IICA funding was sourced in 2014 from the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA). Funds were used to conduct national and regional workshops on Knowledge Management and Communication.

WORKSHOP

The workshops created awareness of our past and current status and guidance for the way forward.

The communication workshops exposed members to impactful ways of telling their business stories as a marketing tool. The story telling tool was used to create an impactful presentation of CANROP’s story at the Alliance Meeting in Suriname in October 2014.

A CANROP Facebook page was created to foster communication among members regionally.

WORKSHOP CONT’D

The workshops created awareness of our past and current status and guidance for the way forward.

The communication workshops exposed members to impactful ways of telling their business stories as a marketing tool. The story telling tool was used to create an impactful presentation of CANROP’s story at the Alliance Meeting in Suriname in October 2014.

A CANROP Facebook page was created to foster communication among members regionally.

WE CANROP

CANROP is in the process of consolidating so all available support to foster growth, development and economic empowerment of female farmers is always welcome. Critical for our growth is the need for the position of a secretariat to do operational management tasks, internal and external communications and be a hub to keep all in touch and in sync.

MOST CRITICAL DEMANDS FOR WOMEN FARMERS IN

RELATION TO PROGRAMME ON AGRICULTURE

ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ON SOCIAL

SAFETY NETWORK

CRITICAL AGRICULTURE DEMANDS

Consultations with female farmers/ organizations and have representation at every level of decision making.

Hosting of capacity building workshops to better equip female farmers to cope with changes brought about by climate change to still maintain viable businesses.

Timely access to inputs especially with the emergence of new pest and more virulent diseases resulting from climate change.

CRITICAL AGRICULTURE DEMANDS CONT’D

Increase access/ownership to more land and monies thereby eliminating the bureaucracy and barriers that still exists.

Expansion of existing integration and free trade agreements which would lead to increase trade flows.

Training to acquire knowledge, techniques and skills required to effectively and efficiently harvest rain water and trap underground water.

CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL

SUSTAINABILITY DEMANDS Promotion of solar and wind operator dryers for food processing in an effort to promote eco friendly environment where applicable.

Revisit conditions under which female farmers work in a male dominated environment.

In an effort to reduce the large percentage of the fruits and vegetables that go to waste annually the need arises for the construction of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Standard Processing Plants with large storage.

Pillar # 1 job creation

CRITICAL DEMANDS RELATED TO SOCIAL

SAFETY NETS

Research and consultation to identify best practices that will impact women in agriculture who are aging.

Continued advocacy for equal rights and pay for the same services provided by men for females.

Revisit conditions under which female farmers work in a male dominated environment.

CRITICAL DEMANDS RELATED TO SOCIAL SAFETY

NETS CONT’ D

More farmers/processors to contribute to the National Insurance Scheme especially for health and pension benefits.

Construction of Community Farmer’s Day Care Centers for the safety and protection of their children.

Major Challenges Experienced By Networks Of Women Farmers In Relation

To Their Ability To Effectively Advocate For Policies and Reforms At National And

Regional Levels

MAJOR CHALLENGES

Limited exposure / knowledge to rights and responsibilities and channels to use to pursue the same.

Lack of political will to address needs at community, national and regional levels.

No union representation.

Low representation of females in governments.

SUPPORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME POLICY

CHALLENGES Greater support from the National Civil Society Organisation and

political representatives in pursuing and monitoring policies relating to female farmers.

Union representation for women in agriculture/ women farmers so as to effectively demonstrate the Decent Work Agenda.

In the absence of union representation greater support is needed from UN Women Organizations to continue to advocate on behalf of the rights of female farmers.