CATEGORY:AGRICULTURE ------------------------- INSIDE GRENADA Tuesday March 6,2007 Managing any agricultural enterprise is a challenge. Farmers and fishermen face daily risks and constant uncertainties. One of the principal means of assisting farmers and fisher folk is through the provision of information – how, when and where it is needed. The Grenada Agricultural Information Service (GAIS) is designed to assist the farming and fishing communities of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique by providing them with pertinent and timely information on a range of subjects, including domestic commodity prices, market opportunities, business management and Government initiatives. The Service includes: the issue of a weekly market report on specific crops in the Grenada Informer and the Grenadian Voice newspapers; the publication and distribution of a bi-monthly newsletter; and the hosting of a dedicated webportal (www.foodandfarmgrenada.com). The GAIS is a joint project and service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry & Fisheries (MALFF), the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) and the Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB) sponsored by Republic Bank. The service is to be launched by the Hon. Gregory Bowen, Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries, Public Utilities, Energy and the MNIB on March 9, 2007 in a ceremony at Bain’s Hall, Grenville. The weekly market report - Food & Farm Grenada Weekly Bulletin - contains market information on 12 crops, listing the average prices at the farm gate, and at the wholesale and retail levels. The specific crops are: banana (green and ripe), cabbage, cucumber, dasheen, lettuce, pawpaw, plantain, pumpkin, sweet potato, tomato and watermelon. The Bulletin also caters for a buy and sell service. The bi-monthly newsletter - Food & Farm Grenada Bi-Monthly Newsletter - will feature practical information for farmers, updates on the Government’s Agriculture Enterprise Development Programme (AEDP), a market report, food and nutrition information, as well as business opportunities. The newsletter will be made available to farmers via MALFF Extension Officers, Republic Bank outlets, the website, as well as through the postal service. Although primarily aimed at Grenada’s farmers, GAIS information is also intended to serve hotel, restaurant and supermarket operators and consumers at large with information to assist with their purchasing decisions. GAIS information is to be widely and openly distributed through the Internet, Republic Bank of Grenada outlets, MALFF stations and agricultural extension officers and MNIB retail stores. The GAIS is a brand new approach to providing information to farmers and fisher folk in Grenada. It is the hope of the sponsor and participating organisations that the service will achieve its goal of leading to the regeneration, modernization and more dynamic growth of Grenada’s agricultural sector. Finally, the GAIS welcomes all stakeholders especially Grenada’s farmers to the launch of its service; this first issue of the Food & Farm Grenada Bi-Monthly Newsletter; its Weekly Bulletin and its Web Portal. The GAIS also looks forward to receiving feedback from all of its users especially farmers. The GAIS Team would like to know more about what kind of information is needed to make the country’s farming and fishing activities more productive. (Contact information will be needed.) For information on the GAIS, visit our website or call or write to: The Grenada Agricultural Information Service (GAIS) C/O The Agency For Reconstruction & Development (ARD) Botanical Gardens, Tanteen, St. George’s, Grenada TELEPHONE: 473-439-5606; FAX: 473-439-5609 E-MAIL: info@foodandfarmgrenada.org