THE INITIATIVE IS PART OF GOVERNMENT’S CLIMATE RESILIENCE EFFORTS.
Saint Lucia’s agriculture sector continues to play a dominant role in its socio-economic development and is a major factor in determining the food and nutrition security of the country. The sector continues to face threats of climate change whilst simultaneously encountering new threats sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government of Saint Lucia through the Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan has donated 190 water tanks to Saint Lucia’s farmers. Chief Economist of the Ministry of Economic Development, Housing, Urban Renewal, Transport and Civil Aviation, notes that the initiative complements an additional 382 tanks which delivered to various public institutions including NEMO, police station, faith-based organizations, as part of the social stabilization plan launched last year.
Tommy Descartes, Chief Economist at the Ministry of Economic Development, Housing, Urban Renewal, Transport and Civil Aviation, said: “In the onset of COVID-19, the Department of Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance embarked on an economic recovery and resilience plan. This plan was essential to help the economy, to help livelihoods, persons that are vulnerable. In crafting the plan we saw it fit that we needed to include the Ministry of Agriculture, because while we face the pandemic we also face the climate crisis and climate impacts farmers in many ways—not only the increase in the intensity and frequency of natural hazards, but also in terms of drought conditions, so we are very happy today that we are launching this initiative.”
Mr. Descartes explains that all tanks were produced by a local supplier in an effort to stimulate the manufacturing sector.
Kenisha Arnaud, a beneficiary farmer expressed gratitude on behalf of all recipients for the donation.
“I would like to sincerely thank them for providing me with this water tank as well as everyone else it will be of great use, especially for the upcoming season,” she said.
The project was funded by World Bank through resources reallocated from the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project.
