|
PRIORITY AREA |
Forestry in Land Use |
|
PROJECT TITLE |
Wildlife Farming |
|
DURATION |
Five (5) years |
|
LOCATION |
Settlements on state lands |
|
BENEFICIARIES |
Small farmers |
BACKGROUND
There are a number of small farmers in the rural areas who are earning a living working banana farms on very steep slopes. This type of farming is leading to significant erosion of the hill sides and is not a sustainable type of agriculture, particularly as the future of bananas on the European market is not assured after 1992. The use of a diversified agroforestry approach would better guarantee sustainability. Wild meat is relatively scarce and demands a higher price. The introduction of wildlife farming as the livestock component on some of the agroforestry plots would accomplish two objectives:
(a) It would make the plot more profitable;
(b) It would take the pressure off the wild populations in the forest.
GENERAL/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
(a) To develop intensive integrated farming systems which are sustainable.
(b) To make the farming of small plots of about 5 ha profitable.
(c) To produce food for the farmer and the nation, making maximum use of local resources, so as to save scarce foreign exchange.
ACTIVITIES
(a) Obtain the services of a professional Wildlife Scientist who has experience in wildlife farming in the Caribbean.
(b) Set up wildlife unit at Government Stock Farm.
(c) Regularise land tenure to provide collateral for the farmers.
(d) Provide credit on long term at low interest to bona fide farmers.
(e) Establish effective and efficient extension services, to provide the farmers with the new technologies needed.
(f) Create marketing cooperatives to effectively market farmers produce.
(g) Support the formation of farmers cooperatives, which will in turn be members of the national farmers organization, such as a Dominica Agricultural Society.
INPUTS
(a) Government Livestock stations must be equipped to supply farmers with the necessary livestock breeding animals.
(b) A Wildlife Section in the Livestock Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, must be set up to produce breeding stock - agouti, manicou, mountain chicken, etc for sale to farmers.
(c) A credit scheme to provide long term (15) years credit, at not more than 6% interest, to be set up preferably within a private sector organization, such as one of the livestock cooperatives.
(d) All imports of equipment, and other inputs for farmers, should be free of duty and other taxes.
OUTPUTS
(a) Reduction of wild meat for sale to public, restaurants, hotels, etc.
(b) Reduction of significant amounts of meats now imported.
(c) Production of fruit and vegetables, some of which may be exported.
(d) The protection of the environment.
(e) The creation of a stabilised rural community of land-owing farmers, practising sustainable agriculture and agroforestry.
NATIONAL LEAD IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
Jointly - Forestry Division and Livestock Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.
BUDGET (EC$)
|
Personnel |
Duration |
Cost |
|
Consultant Wildlife farming |
1 man month |
17,000 |
|
One Chief Extension Officer |
60 man months |
240,000 |
|
Two Extension Officers |
120 man months |
312,000 |
|
One Marketing Specialist |
12 man months |
60,000 |
|
Secretarial etc |
60 man months |
90,000 |
Credit
|
Granted to credit scheme (revolving) |
1,500,000 |
Equipment
|
2 Jeeps 4-WD |
90,000 |
|
Office equipment, etc |
91,000 |
|
Local cost - operating expenses and supplies (5 years) |
200,000 |
|
Total Cost EC$ |
2,600,000 |
