sustainable eleuthera

Sustainable Eleuthera

Williams CollegeJanuary 2012

ENVI 25

Farm Interviews

Elideux Joseph

• Traditional Pothole farming technique

• No chemicals or irrigation

"Every time someone says thank you, I get rain." - why he gave away his produce

David Carey• Heavy herbicide use• Lost $30,000 in Hurricane Irene• No insurance; government came

to evaluate damages but never followed up

• Sells to the packing house, but refuses to do so on a large scale because it's not profitable:

"They're just irresponsible...I've been given $0.12/lb for cabbages, how are you going to do that?...I like working, but I don't like working for nothing!"

Bishop Nixon

• Not enough support from government; sells only 10%of produce to packing house

• Reserved about Wild Dog Initiative, lost 30 animals to dogs

• Head of Farmer's Association in South Eleuthera, currently working on Green House Initiative

“They say all the right things, but do nothing.”- on government

Bishop Dudley Kelly

• Lost his crop this year to Irene

• Hurricanes are a big challenge to farmers on Eleuthera

• Stresses the need for government to encourage youth to become part of agriculture.

"If you don't have young men and women in any business, then that business is dying."

Edrin Symonette• Suggests government

programs and other start-up assistance for potential farmers

• Recommends both citrus and livestock as profitable ventures, though fixed costs are high

• Highly supportive of a processing plant

A processing plant would allow farmers to sell grades B-D produce, establish new markets, encourage alternative crops and make farming more attractive as a profession.

Pharis CashI have too many pumpkins, no one will take them. I just leave them on the ground to rot and go back into

the Earth.• Takes advantage

of government funding and land programs

• Has issues with marketing during a glut

• Suggested that a processing plant would be very successful

Lady Di• Daughter is interested

in farming

• Soil is rich enough to grow pineapples, always in demand so one of the most successful farmers

• Thought that processing plant should not be run by government but rather farmer's association

"I always like to play in the dirt and farming is fun and easy." -Sabrina, Lady Di's daughter.

Packinghouse: Background

Operations• Ministry of Agriculture • Middle Man• Straight to Nassau

Packinghouse: Background

Operations• Middle Man• Straight to Nassau• Ministry of Agriculture

Interviews• Godfrey Deveaux (Packinghouse manager in S. Eleuthera) • Phillip Miller (Under Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture)• Amanda Wells (Agricultural Officer with BAIC)

Packinghouse: Current Issues

• Lack of availability of local food on Eleuthera• Low prices for farmers• 9000 dollar cap• Dismantling system?

Packinghouse: Suggestions

Communication• Distributing Intermediary• Communicative Link• BAIC (Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation)



9000 Dollar Cap



9000 Dollar Cap Packinghouse Future• Expand the role• Only institution in place

Processing Plant

Problems• Packing House only buys Grade A produce, Grade B-D

either processed by the farmers or is “left on the field”

Problems

• Gluts on certain crops, make their cultivation unprofitable

• Packing House only buys Grade A produce, Grade B-D either processed by the farmers or is “left on the field”

Problems

• Packing House requirements “force” the farmers to use excessive amounts of fertilizers to achieve the Grade A standard

• Gluts on certain crops, make their cultivation unprofitable

• Packing House only buys Grade A produce, Grade B-D either processed by the farmers or is “left on the field”

The Economic Opportunity

Value Added Through Processing

Raw/Processed Product UnitPrice of Unprocessed

Products (USD)

Average Price of Processed

(USD)

Packaging or Canning Containers' Cost (USD)

1 Tomato/Salsa lb 0.68 60.50

2 Banana/Banana Chips lb 0.4 10

3 Cabbage/Kimchi 12 for 1 case 7 for 1 lb 0.50

4 Mango/Dried Mango 17 for 1 case 56 for 1 lb

5 Pumpkin/Canned Pumpkin lb 0.25 3 0.50

6 Watermelon/WtMelon Juice lb 0.3 10 0.40

Assumptions:

1. Pricelist 2. Conservative Estimate of Price of the Processed Good

The Model

• Stationary• Equipment Purchased

already?

• High capacity

• Ability to process several crops

• Cost: ?

• Geography

The Model

• Geography• Lower capacity• Ability to process several

crops • Cost: Vermont Mobile

Flash Freeze Unit - USD $75,000

• Mobile

Further Considerations & Suggestions

• Importance of various types of equipment• Need for training on Marketing and Researching –

Simeon Pinder• The Standard of Quality• Niche marketing • Ownership structure

o Privateo Packing house managemento Farmer's association

Mobile Slaughterhouse

• Livestock a good investment for farmerso Large demand


• Livestock a good investment for farmerso Large demando Available year-round


• Livestock a good investment for farmerso Large demando Available year-roundo More profitable than produce


• Livestock a good investment for farmerso Large demando Available year-roundo More profitable than produceo Young people relatively interested



• Issues with livestock production o Lack of slaughterhouse



• Issues with livestock productiono Lack of slaughterhouseo Wild dogs

Mobile Slaughterhouse:Why

• Mobile slaughterhouse more suitable than stationary

o Lower cost: stationary slaughterhouse costs four times as much

o Fits needs of geographically dispersed farmerso Decreases stresses put on animals, increasing quality of

meat

"I would buy local but I have to keep my

reputation." - Chef at high-end

restaurant

Mobile slaughterhouse: OperationPublic vs. private ownership • inefficiency problem with public ownership.• default danger with private ownership.

• Animal wasteo Hides processed to make leathero Other waste can be used to make fertilizer

Restaurants

• Potential market, but current problemso Costo Consistencyo Lack of coordination

• Interviewed 10 chefs and buyers about local problems

Restaurants: Suggestions

Changes to packing house system• Increase communication with buyers• Act as centralized distributor


Changes to packing house system

Mobile slaughterhouse• Allows for legal sale of local meat• Faster, fresher delivery



Mobile slaughterhouse

Value added plant• Increases availability• Pre-made food products




Value added plant

Increasing marketing of local food• Increases demand for local food• Focus on tourists




Value added plant

Increasing marketing of organics

Changing planting of crops• Increasing lettuce, other greens• Focus on what is needed on island

Youth and the Future of Farming


“If I had a message to to send to the Bahamian

government, it would be to encourage young men.”

-Bishop Dudley Kelly on the future of farming


• Visit to Central Eleuthera High School


• Visit to Central Eleuthera High School • Student demographics


• Visit to Central Eleuthera High School • Student demographics

• Student interviews


Survey Results


Survey Results • Did you enjoy farming?


Survey Results • Would you consider farming as an occupation?

Youth and the Future of FarmingSurvey Results

Youth and the Future of FarmingWhy don't kids like farming?


• Gender divide


• Gender divide • Common complaints



3) Physical difficulty



3) Physical difficulty 2) Weather



3) Physical difficulty 2) Weather

"The sun is very harsh and hot... it's not good!"



3) Physical difficulty 2) Weather 1) Cleanliness



3) Physical difficulty 2) Weather 1) Cleanliness

"I don't like it, too dirty. I don't wanna get out and get

dirty that much."

Youth and the Future of FarmingWhy don't kids want to farm

professionally?


professionally?

• Common career goals


professionally?

• Common career goals o Recurring themes


professionally?


Stability


professionally?


Stability Higher education


professionally?

• Common career goals • Perception of farming as an occupation


professionally?


o Perceived role of farming


professionally?



"Just the essential things I need the most... not on a

large scale."


professionally?



"Most of my friends want to do something big."


professionally?


o Perceived role of farming o Reasons for aversion


professionally?



3) Distance


professionally?



3) Distance

"It's not what we do... the old folks do it."


professionally?



3) Distance 2) Unprofitable


professionally?



3) Distance 2) Unprofitable 1) Unstable

Youth and the Future of FarmingRecommendations

• Mentorship program in school


• Mentorship program in schoolo Benefits to agriculture class


• Mentorship program in schoolo Benefits to agriculture classo Positive role models


• Mentorship program in schoolo Benefits to agriculture classo Positive role modelso Natural professional support


• Mentorship program in schoolo Benefits to agriculture classo Positive role modelso Natural professional supporto Supports existing farmers


• Support from government


• Support from governmento Current support for farming


• Support from governmento Current support for farmingo Possible ways to help



Land grant system



Land grant system Technical assistance



Land grant system Technical assistance Processing plant



Land grant system Technical assistance Processing plant Meat processing

to Josh Shultz for all of his help

with our interviews and

research, and for showing us

around Eleuthera!

also to the Island School for hosting us on

campus, and to Shaun Ingraham

for his support!

Thank You

sustainable eleuthera

Documents

farmers associationi

grade bd

grades bd produce

processed b

ongreen house initiativethey

south eleuthera

profitable ventures

eleuthera phillip miller