INSIDE GRENADA JANUARY 20, 2008 from Marketing & National Importing Board The Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB), in conjunction with Caribbean Chemicals hosted an informative one day Hot Pepper Workshop for 30 persons involved in hot production and marketing. The workshop was held on Thursday, January 10th at Bon Accord Estate, La Mode St. George’s and was facilitated by Agronomist, Fayaz Shah of Caribbean Chemicals based in Trinidad. Through an integrated approach, the key objective was to broaden stakeholders’ knowledge in the procedures and management practices involved in input supply, production and marketing of hot peppers in Grenada. In attendance at the workshop was a cross section of stakeholders representing MNIB staff members, Hot Pepper farmers and field staff (farm workers), Grenada Rural Enterprise Project (GREP), input suppliers (Renwick & Thompson & Caribbean Chemicals) and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture representing Agricultural Planning, Agricultural Extension, Irrigation, Farm Mechanization and Pest Management units. This integrated approach aligns with government policy and commitment to address the following: employment creation, alleviation of poverty, crop diversification, rising cost of consumer goods, training and education process. It is MNIB’s goal to ensure that the Hot Pepper Export Program be develop as a sustainable one that will improve the standard of living for the Grenadian farmer; provide a guaranteed market for their produce (peppers); crop diversification; employment and growth while resulting in brining in foreign exchange. This initiative and exchange promotes regional unity and trade vise a vise information sharing and transfer of knowledge among Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) nations via education and dissemination of information to ensure that the program is economically viable. Key highlights from the workshop: • Hands on opportunity to gain practical knowledge about the hot pepper cycle, required nutrients and micronutrients; pest management; pesticides; disease; fertilizers; and irrigation systems. • Farming is a business and it is the farmers’ responsibility to manage their business from all aspects – field management, labor management, maintenance of financial and other record keeping. • Harvesting of Hot Pepper is a labor intensive process that requires skills, hence the importance of training staff. • One farmer with previous hot pepper farming experience felt that with the information he acquired from the workshop he would be able to put into effect the practices, techniques, and appropriate products in order to make his hot pepper field more fruitful, successful, lucrative than in previous years. • The importance of a hot pepper industry organizational structure to include a cross sector of stakeholders, including farmers, agro-processors, Technocrats and exporters. This workshop forms part of the overall support for the MNIB hot pepper program. OVERVIEW OF MNIB HOT PEPPER PROGRAM Sponsors ------------ Marketing & National Importing Board (MNIB), Grenada Rural enterprise Project (GREP), National Development Foundation (NDF) and Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) Preamble ---------- MNIB in collaboration with GREP, NDF, and MOA have embarked upon a Hot Pepper production and export program. Objective ------------ To improve the income from farming activities in rural communities through the increased production of good quality hot peppers for export to regional and international markets. Scope --------- 44 acres of “CARDI Green” hot peppers will be planted on 10 selected farms throughout the country. Approximately 213,000 seedlings or (1,665 trays) will be required for the program. The nursery operation will be funded by GREP thru two cooperatives. Estimated revenue to the cooperatives through the sale of plants stands at $50,000.00 @ $30.00 / tray. Output ---------- Over a twelve month production cycle one million pounds of marketable peppers is expected at a guaranteed minimum price of EC$1.00/lb. Total farm revenue is estimated @ EC$1.1 million Production -------------- Planting is scheduled over a three month period (September : November) Market Assurance -------------------- MNIB will contract all selected farmers under the program. Targeted markets are the UK, Canada & United States of America. Employment Generation -------------------------- In addition to farm owners and nursery operators over 7,600 man-days of farm employment will be generated in the communities where the farms are located. With an estimated EC$40.00/ man day, total income paid to workers is estimated at EC$300,000.00 Financing requirement ------------------------- Total project cost is estimated at EC$1.48 million. Farmers contribution – (Land) $880,000, Working Capital, Equipment etc $1,205,548.00