KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

ORGANICFARMING,CLIMATECHANGEANDICTS FOCUSGROUP/TRAININGWORKSHOPFOR KNOWINGANDGROWINGFARMERS June27thtoJuly1st2009 WorkshopSummaryReport

Compiledby:
Networked Intelligence for Development Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

ORGANICFARMING,CLIMATECHANGEANDICTS
FOCUSGROUP/TRAININGWORKSHOPFORKNOWINGANDGROWINGFARMERS
June 27th to July 1st 2009, Kingston, Jamaica

Implementing Organizations Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement, Jamaica Networked Intelligence for Development, Canada

Participants from Canada, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago

Collaborating Private & Public Institutions

Environmental Management Institute, UWI, Jamaica

Local Resource Presentations

Mr. Ricardo Clarke, Meteorologist, Meteorological Services, Jamaica Mr. Owen Evelyn, Senior Director, Forestry Dept. Jamaica Mr. Norman Foster, Vice-President, CGM Gallagher Group, Jamaica Dr. Elizabeth Hope-Thomas, Environmental Management Unit, UWI, Jamaica Ms. Donna Noble, Woodford Market Garden, Jamaica

Workshop Sponsors

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction and context 2. Climate change issues of concern to organic farmers 3. Highlights of workshop discussions 4. Immediate outcomes, proposed follow-up activities, and recommendations 5. NID training methodology Appendices

1:FarmsitevisitWoodfordMarketGarden

2:WorkshopfacilitatorsMarkus,Nidhi, Dorienne

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

I. Introductionandcontext NetworkedIntelligenceforDevelopment(NID)inCanadaandtheJamaicaOrganicAgriculture Movement(JOAM)havebeenworkingtogethersince2003tobuildthecapacityofwomen farmerstofarmorganicallythroughtheKnowingandGrowingNetwork. Followingasuccessfuljointventurein2004where50womenfarmersfrom13Caribbean countriesparticipatedinthefirstKnowing&Growingtrainingworkshop,thetwopartner organizationscommittedtocontinueworkingtodeliverappliedandtechnicalexpertisein organicfarming,smallbusinessdevelopmentandinformationandcommunicationtechnologies (ICTs)towomenfarmentrepreneursintheregion.Asecondregionalworkshoptookplacein Grenadain2006followedbythethirdworkshopinGuyanain2007andatrainingoftrainers workshopin2008. Organicagricultureisthefastestgrowingofallsectorsinagriculture,worldwide.Shiftingto organicfarmingisanattractivealternativeforsmallfarmersintheCaribbean,asthedemandfor organicproduceandproductscontinuestogrowandasthebananaandsugarindustrieson severaloftheislandsfaceadownturn.Organicfarmersareabletoapplylocalresourcesand knowledgeaswellasnonchemicalinputstotheirfarmingsystems,conservetheirsoilandland quality,andreviveIndigenousAgriculturalPractices.Thisinturncanhaveapositivelongterm impactonlocalfoodsecurityandpromoteareturntoculturesandsystemsofholistic environmentalmanagement. Organicfarmingis,furthermore,ahighlyknowledgeintensiveandintimatemethodoffarming relativetoothermethods.ICTslendthemselvestomoreefficientandeffectivemanagementof thesefarmingpractices.Everythingfromfarmmanagement,pestcontrol,theuseofindigenous herbicides,cropmonitoring,andsoilculturepromotiontoorganicstandards,certificationand marketingrequiresconstantmonitoring,datacollectionandrecordkeeping.Atthesametime, manysmallscaleorganicfarmersfarminisolationandmightnotbenefitfromthelarger communitybasednetworksthatsupportnonorganicfarmers.Asmorefarmersadoptorganic methodssuccessfully,storing,processingandmarketingfacilitieswillneedtobedevelopedto ensurethatproductsreachtheirmarketsmeetingthequalitystandardrequirements.ICTsare importantforfarmerstousetobuildandnurturerelationshipswiththeentirechainoforganic agentsincludingimporters,tradersandwholesalers.Manyofthecertificationprocessesare increasinglywebbased,makingitimperativeforfarmerstofamiliarizethemselveswiththeease ofaccesstoinformationandapplicationproceduresthatonlineapplicationslendthemselves to. Atthesametime,asinmanyotherregionsintheworld,womenplayavitalifunderrecognized andunsupportedroleinfoodproduction.Theyhavelessaccesstoland,extensiontraining, affordablecreditandloansthandomen.Byimplication,womenhavelessopportunityto articulate,negotiateoractupontheirconcernsinthefoodproductionsectoratthepolicylevel. Thesefarmersalsofinditmoredifficulttoestablishmarketcontactsfortheirproducts,andmay findthecostsofconvertingcroplandtoorganicachallenge.Atthesametime,research indicatesthatnotonlydowomenmakeupto65%ofdaytodayonfarmand80%ofmarketing decisions,butthatthereisalsoagrowinglevelofexpressedinterestandcommitmentto

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

organicfarmingmethodsamongwomen,notleastbecausetheyhavealreadyexperiencedfirst handthedamagingeffectsofsyntheticfertilisersandpesticides,andbecausetheyarevery concernedabouttheirimmediatefamilyshealth. NIDandJOAManticipatecontinuingthisworkwithwomenfarmersoverthenextfewyears becausetheimpactsofthetrainingarepositiveandimmediate,andmoreandmorewomenare demandingthiskindofhandsonpracticaltraining.AsthenetworkofKnowingandGrowing participantsgrows,weareabletovisitfarmsofpastparticipants,andpastparticipantsoften recommendotherstoattendnewworkshops.Inthisway,womenentrepreneurswhohave participatedintheseworkshopsgrowandsupporteachotherinthissectorofagricultural development.

1:VirtualfarmvisitpresentationDavidDolly

ThisworkshopwasfundedprimarilybytheUNDPsCARUTA(CaribbeanRegionalUnitfor TechnicalAssistance)program.InthepreparatoryworkofCARUTAthroughTAPARD,UNDP establishedarelationshipwithNIDcollaboratingonanumberofcapacitybuildingactivities particularlytargetingwomenfarmersandorganicfarmingsince2003.CARUTAiscurrently supportingtheCARICOMsecretariatinestablishinganeffectiveinformationandknowledge sharingsystem.TheuseofICTisincreasinglybecomingessential.CARUTAcanfacilitatethis sharingofinformationthroughanestablishedwebsiteandatthesametimeprovidesupportto CARICOMinestablishingtherequireddatacollectionsystem.Thescopeofthewebsitewillbeto breachgaps,makinginformationeffectiveandstimulatingallstakeholderstothinkregionalas withoutareallyfreeandeffectivemovementofagriculturalproducewithintheregionthereis littlethatcanbeachievedintermsoffoodsecurityandagriculturaldevelopment. 2. Climatechangeissuesofconcerntoorganicfarmers ManyofourglobalscaleenvironmentalissuesaredirectlyrelatedtoEarthsnaturalresource base.Todaysmajorglobalscalechallengesincludeclimatedisruption,losingforests,losing land,losingfreshwater,losingmarinefisheries,losingbiodiversity,andoverfertilizationwith nitrogen(leadingtolargeareasofdeadlandandocean).Allofthesechallengesandlossesare interlinkedandinterdependent,resultingfrommodernmethodsoflanduseandtherelentless exploitationofresourcesforprofitandconsumption.Thelongstandardizedandestablished

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

principlesoflandusemethodsneedto beunlearnedandreversed,the vestedinterestsofanentrenchedagro industrialsystemidismantled,andby thesametoken,thosepeoplewhoare thenaturalstewardsoflandand naturalresourcesneedtobe recognized,valuedandempoweredto takenewstridesinthecontextof climatechange. Thispilotworkshopdrewthelinks betweenagricultureandclimate change,andshowcasedthewaysin whichorganicfarmingaddressesthe 2:Workshopdiscussions negativeimpactsofclimatechange. Thefourdayworkshopexploredthevariouswaysinwhichclimatechangeinformationcanbe maderelevanttosmallholderfarmers.Theworkshopculminatedinapublicforumwhich attractedawideaudienceincludingtheheadofFAO,thechiefoftheMeteorologicaloffice, seniorstafffromtheMinistryofAgriculture,andrepresentativesoflocalandregionalNGOs includingPANOSandCARDI.Thereisclearlyagreatdealofinterestintheoverlappingissuesof smallscalefarming,thedamagetotheenvironmenttodate,andtheopportunitiesforengaging farmersinmakingtheregionanetcarbonsink. Someofthekeythematicissuesthatwerediscussedincludedthefollowing: 2.1 ClimateChange,FoodSecurityandOrganicFarming Themonocrop,slashandburn,highsynthetic(chemical)inputagriculturethatispracticedin theregionrunscountertoconservingandnurturingtheland,tothebiologicalfoundationsof farmingandtooptimizingnaturalresourcesandnaturaldefencemechanisms.Thecombination andconvergenceofanumberoffactorshasleftagricultureintheCaribbeanregioninserious crisisandfoodsecuritycompromised. Bydrawingthelinksbetweenerosion,depletionofsoilcontent,andthedamageofhurricanes, participantsareabletoconsiderthelong termadvantagesofmanagingtheirfarms throughaholisticorganicsystem. Participantsconsideredthevalueof nurturinghealthysoil,togrowhealthy food,tofeedalocalpopulation,and distinguishbetweenorganicfarmingand local(traditional)farmingmethodsand whatthismeansforsustainablelocal livelihoods.Insodoing,thecauseand
3:Forestrydiscussion OwenEvelyn

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

effectofmonocropping,stretchingthecroptoitsmaximum(asopposedtoitsoptimum),and cyclesoffamineandlowharvests,aredrawn.Theworkshopfacilitatorsalsodebunkaseriesof commonmyths;thattoconverttoorganicrequiresleavingthefarmfallowforthreeyearsor thatconventionalcropshaveahigheryieldthanorganicallygrown.Workshopparticipants exploredarangeofexamplesofclimatestressandassociatedconsequences,suchasmore frequentheatwaves,heavierprecipitationeventsormoreintensetropicalcyclonesandthe impactsonlivelihoods,foodandwatersecurity,health,biodiversity,coastalareadamageand lossofsettlements.Participantsalsonotedespeciallydamaginghumanactivitiessuchassand miningwhichhasledtoaterriblelevelofdegradationassandisremovedfromsoils,the tourismindustryalsohasalottoanswerforaslargehotelcomplexesarebuiltonfragile coastlands. 2.2 Turningcrisisintoopportunity:whyOrganicAgricultureissuchacompellingoption duringclimatechange TheForce5HurricaneIvanin2004heraldedanominouschangeinweatherpatternswithmore frequentandmoreseverestormsdevastatingtheregioncoupledwithincreasedrainfallcausing severefloodinginterspersedwithperiodsofdrought.FarmersrightacrosstheCaribbeanare facingthedirectandindirecteffectsofclimatechange. Smallholderfarmersarethemostvulnerableoftheagriculturalcommunityandhavehadlittle helptosecuretheirfarms,naturalresourcesandassetsinthefaceofincreasinglyunpredictable weatherandrisingsealevels.Thesamefarmers,however,haveacriticalandyetunrecognised roletoplayinaddressingclimatechangebychangingtheirfarmingpracticestouselessenergy, tocarefornurturebiodiversityandbyreducingGreenhouseGasEmissions.Thefarming methodidentifiedbytheUNEPandFAOasafundamentallysoundwaytoaddressclimate changeisorganicproduction. Agricultureanddeforestation(whichoftentimesgohandinhand)areasignificantcontributor toGHGemissions(seeFig.1). Figure1:SourcesofGHGEmissions AccordingtotheIPCC ClimateChange2007 Developed Countries Developing Countries 70 SynthesisReport:Latin America/Caribbean 60 region:By2050, 50 desertificationand 40 salinizationwillaffect50 30 percentofagricultural landsinLatinAmerican 20 andtheCaribbeanzone. 10 Ifdeforestationcontinues 0 attodaysrate, Energy Deforestation Agriculture Industrial Waste (excluding land processes approximately40percent use change) oftheexisting540million hectaresofAmazonian rainforestwillhavedisappearedby2050.
% total of GHG emissions

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

TheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,FourthAssessmentReport(WG3,2007) identifiesanumberofopportunitiesformitigatinggreenhousegasesinagriculture.These optionsformitigationfallintothreebroadcategories:reducingemissions;enhancingremovals; andavoiding(ordisplacing)emissions(pp505508). Reducingemissions:effectiveagriculturalmanagementcanhelpreducethe emissionsofcarbonandnitrogenflowsin agriculturalecosystems.Theapproachesthat bestreduceemissionsdependonlocal conditions,andtherefore,varyfromregion toregion; Enhancingremovals:improvedagricultural managementsuchaspracticesthatincrease thephotosyntheticinputofcarbonand/or slowthereturnofstoredcarbonscanresult inenhancedgreenhousegasremoval; Avoidingemissions:cropsandresiduesfrom agriculturallandscanbeusedasasourceof fuel.Emissions,notablyCO2,cabalsobe avoidedbyagriculturalmanagement practicesthatforestallthecultivationofnew landsnowunderforest,grasslandorother nonagriculturalvegetation. 4:Compostingdemonstrationonfarm Irrigatedagricultureaccountsforalmost70%ofworld waterwithdrawalsandcloseto90%ofthetotalconsumptivewateruse(theportionthatislost totheimmediateenvironmentforuse)ii.Watermanagementforagriculturewillbecomean increasinglyimportantconcernasawaytocopingwithclimaterelatedwaterstress,particularly inrainfedagriculture.Cropproductivitywilldependuponsufficientprecipitationtomeetboth evaporativedemandandsoilmoistureneeds.Furthermore,thetwosectorsintheworldthat usethemostwaterarechemicalintensiveagricultureandfossilfuelbasedenergyproduction. Organicfarmingiiipresentsaviableandimportantopportunitytotheregion,notonlybecauseof thenonchemicalnatureoftheoverallproductivesystem,butalsobecausedatagainedfrom modelingbothlongtermfieldtrialsandpilotfarmsivshow: itsconsiderablepotentialforreducingemissionsofgreenhousegases(becauseit useslessenergythanconventionalfarming); itssignificantcontributiontosequestrationofCO2inthesoilv TheFAOreportsthatOrganicagricultureperformsbetterthanconventionalagricultureona perhectarescale,bothwithrespecttodirectenergyconsumption(fuelandoil)andindirect consumption(syntheticfertilizersandpesticides).Its2002reportstatesthatorganic

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

agricultureenablesecosystemstobetteradjusttotheeffectsofclimatechangeandhadmajor potentialforreducingGHGs.vi Otherpositivefactorsinclude: Organicsoilshavebetterwaterretainingcapacitywhichexplainswhyorganic productionisusuallymoreresistanttoclimaticextremessuchasfloodsordroughts Carbonsequestrationinsoilsispromotedbyorganicmethodsduetotheadditionof compost,mulches,manuresandcovercrops Organicfarmingsystemsrequireregularandmethodicalrecordingoffarmingdata suchas(askD)fororganicfarminspectorstomonitor.Thissystematizeddata methodlendsitselftosystematicrecordingofweatherrelateddataforusebylocal andnationalmeteorologicalstations Asorganicfarmingcompriseshighlydiversefarmingsystems,thediversityof incomesourcesalsoincreasespotentiallybufferingfarmerstoadverseeffectsof climatechangeandvariabilitysuchaschangedrainfallpatterns.Coffeeplanted underbananatreesalongsideasparagusforinstance,protectsthecoffeebushfrom theravagesofahurricanewind. Futurecarbonsequestrationprogrammesthatseektoofferfarmersenvironmental feesforstewardshipofsoil,landandbiodiversitymayhaveaneasiertimeof measuringeconomicvalue,costandpayments. Biodiversityoffloraandfauna(includingbirds). Organicfarmingoffersalowriskfarmingstrategywithreducedinputcostsand lowerdependenceonexternalinputssuchasfertilizers.Byextension,thisoften meansreducedfinancialrisk,reducedindebtednessalongsideincreaseddiversity Otherrelatedbenefitshealthyeating,localfoods,loweroverallfoodcarbon footprint. Participantsdiscussedtheseissuesfromtheirpersonalperspectivesandexperiences.Inthe evening,theywereabletoviewaseries ofcompellingvideomaterialsfromthe RodaleInstitutethatdrawpositivelinks betweengoodhealth,organicfarming andasolutionforclimatechange. 2.3 TheOrganicExportSector, internationaltradeimplicationsfor womenfarmers Organicagricultureisoneofthefastest growingofallsectorsinagriculture, 5:Virtualfarmvisit Rowan'sRoyaleorganiccoffee worldwide.Accordingtoa2005World StudyonOrganicAgriculture,currentlymorethan26millionhectaresoffarmlandareunder organicmanagementworldwide.Thisismorethantwomillionhectaresmorethaninthe previousyearanincreaseofalmosttenpercent.Theorganicsectoris,onaverage,underhalfa percentofthetotalagriculturalsectorinmostcountries,theexceptionsbeingGermanyand

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

Austriawhichhavebetweentwoandthreepercentoftheiragriculturalareaunderorganic production.Themajororganicproductssoldinglobalmarketsincludeinorderofimportance aredriedfruitsandnuts,processedfruitsandvegetables,cocoa,spices,herbs,oilcropsand derivedproducts,sweeteners,driedleguminousproducts,meat,dairyproducts,alcoholic beverages,processedfoodandfruit Withclimatechange,monoculturesare preparations.Nonfooditemsinclude goingtofail,sosystemswillnaturallymutate cotton,horticultureandlivestock. towardspolycultureandpermaculture. ErleRahamanNoronha,Trinidad Opportunitiesexisttotapintoexport, regionalandlocaltourismmarkets,butwomenfarmerstendtobeisolatedfromsystematicand easilyaccessiblemarketinformation,arenotproducingtoorganicexportstandards,donot recognizethemselvesasentrepreneursorfarmingasabusinessandarethuslesslikelyto translatetheirinterestandfarmingpracticeintoeconomicrevenue.Anumberofwomen farmerswouldliketomakethisleapbutneedsupporttodoso.Themarketfororganicproducts fromtheCaribbeanispotentiallyalargeone.Thereareregionalopportunities,whichcouldbe exploredbytargetinghotelsandthegrowingecotourismmarket.IntheCaribbean,women ownandcontrollesslandthandomen.Themajorityoffemalefarmersaresmallfarmers. Despitepoliciesintendedtoassureequitabledevelopmentwomen,theystillreceiveless extensiontrainingandaccesscomparativelyfewerloansforfarmdevelopment,product developmentandmarketing.Althoughthereislittleavailabledataonhectaresinorganic agricultureintheCaribbeanitisindicatedthatineveryterritoryahighpercentageofwomen farmersshowaninterestinfarmingintraditionalandholisticfashionsbutdonothaveaccessto thestandardsandproductionprocessesrequiredforcertification.Thesefarmersneedinstead togrowforlocalfoodsecurityandtotargetthedomesticmarkets,bothlocallyandregionally wherethereisagrowingdemandand needforhealthyfoods. Iwillbegoingintotheprep.Schoolstoteach childrenaboutorganicfarmingandcaringfor ourenvironment.Ifwebegintoteachouryoung OneoftheparticipantsfromSt.Kitts mentionedherdifficultyinacquiring childrenaboutcaringfortheenvironmentand morelandforfarming,andalsonoted respectingwhatwehaveitmaybecome thatsomelandisbeingsoldtobiofuel secondnature. DonnaNoble,Jamaica. interests.Thisledtoabriefdiscussionon themonocropfeaturesofbiofuel plantations,andanintroductiontothecarbonemissionscapandtradeinitiatives.Thisaspect ofthetrainingprogramwillbeexploredfurtherinfutureworkshopsasitisimportantfor farmerstounderstandtheimplicationsandpotentialbenefitsofthecleandevelopment mechanismasafarmincentive. 3. Highlightsofdiscussions Specifictofarmingsystems: Thereisaneedformorereadilyavailableinformationonappliedorganicfarming,suchas howtotreatfarminsectssothatthoseattemptingtofarmorganicallydonotrevertbackto easilyaccessiblechemicalpesticideswheninsectsbecomeaproblem;

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

Publiceducationonthebenefitsofeatingorganicallyproducedandnaturallyfarmed produceneedstobeheightenedparticularlyamongyoungerpopulations,althoughthereis agrowingawarenessanddemandfornaturalfoodse.g.inSt.Kitts; SimpleprintandaudiovisualadulttrainingmaterialsspecifictotheCaribbeancontextbut drawingalsoongoodpracticesintheSouth,needtobedevelopedwithfarmerinputto counterprevailingmisconceptionsontheviabilityoforganicfarmingandtoaddmomentum tomakingorganicthedefaultagriculturalsystemintheregion; Thereisnolocalcapacitytomonitorsoilcarbonsequestrationinconventionalversus organicfarming,thiswouldbeusefulindemonstratingthebenefitsofonesystemagainst theother; Thechemicalinputsthataresoreadilyavailableasaresultoftheagroindustrialsystem meansthatinitiativestoprovidesupportto farmers,e.g.throughriskinsurance,will oftenprovidenonorganicseedsand fertilizerasarecoverypackage,butthese inputsareofnousetotheorganicfarmer andcansetbackthosewhoareattempting 6:WoodfordMarketGardenhillsideorganic toshiftawayfromchemicalagriculture. farming Insurancepackagesneedtobedeveloped tocaterforthespecificneedsoforganic farming; Thenotionthatthefarmitselfmight containallthenaturalinputsthatthe farmerneedstopromotesoilhealthandfertility,needstobedemonstratedinlocalized contexts; Thereisgeneralagreementthatthoseinitiativesthatworkwithandthroughwomen farmersareusuallytheonesthathavelongtermsustainabilityandthereforeitiskeyto continueworkingdeliberatelyandstrategicallywithwomenfarmers. Specifictoclimatechange: Publicawarenesscampaignsonthebenefitsofgrowingtrees,andonthedisadvantagesof slashandburn,orthedepletionofmangroveforcoal(forinstance),needtobewidespread andbroadcastinthecontextofclimatechange; Meteorologicalrecordingofclimatechange:datacollectionintheregion,potentialroleof farmers,smallandlargescalealiketomakeweatherrecordinganintegralpartoffarm activities,Needformorecoordinationbetweenagriculturalinstitutions,weatherrecording attheuniversitycentresandfarmersthemselves; Theimportanceofforestrytofarmingandviceversa.Asfarasfiguresgo,Jamaicais omittingeighttimesmorethanitconserves,andalthoughthecountryscontributionto climatechangeisconsideredminimal,JamaicashouldtrytobeanetCO2sink.Thereis moreroomforsolarandwindenergyandlessenthusiasmhereforthebiofuelalternative despiteexternalpressures; AprefeasibilitystudyonanprogramofcompensationtofarmersinJamaicaasaresultof exposuretoweatherriskshasjustbeencompleted,thiswouldbeanidealtimetoensure

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thatanumberoflocalorganicfarmsareincludedinthenextphaseofthepilotinitiativeroll out; Thepotentialforgrowingbothfoodandfuelonfarms,tomakeupforthelossoflocal vegetation(suchasseagrapewhichisharvestedforcoal); Theimportanceofputtingtreesintofarmingsystemsimmediatelysothattheymaturein thenexttenyearstoprotecttheislandsfromclimatedamage. SpecifictoICTs: Thereisanarrayofwebsitesthat Ifyoutellfarmersthatthereisafilmshowtheywill wouldbeusefultofarmers, come!Thatisthebestwaytoteachnewmethods. dependingupontheirlevelofease BryanAnderson,Jamaica withaccessingandworkingwith theweb.Alltheparticipantslefttheworkshopwithanemailaddresssetupandhaving subscribedtotheIFOAMorganicnewsletterbyemail.Afewparticipantswereinterestedto learnaboutskype.Mostwereinterestedtoseethevarietyofwebsitesthattheycouldaccess forregularisedinformation. Thereareonlinetoolstomeasurehouseholdandfarmsteadcarbonfootprint,but theseneedtobecustomizedandrecalibratedtotakeintoaccountaCaribbeanrural settingandthecarbonfootprintinvolvedinpackaging,wastemanagementand processingonandofffarm; ParticipantswereabletoseeGoogleEarthmappingandtounderstandthe implicationsandbenefitstofarmersofhavingthiskindofinformation. IforganicfarmersintheCaribbeanaretobeactiveplayersintheglobaltrendtowardsorganic farming,thenitisessentialthattheyhaveaccesstotheInternet,andthattheybegintouseICT basedapplicationsfortheirinformationmanagementandcommunicationneeds.ICTsafford relativelyinexpensiveaccesstoawealthofinformationandnetworks,marketinformation; comparativedataonfarmgateprices;consumeranalysesaswellasorganicmethods.Thelatter includenotonlyproducingorganicproductsbutalsoensuringthattheproductsarestored, processed,handled,labelledandmarketedaccordingly.Inaddition,informationmanagement softwareaffordseasierrecordkeepingandbyextension,moreefficientmeansofforecasting supplyanddemandforproductsandproduce. Tohelpwomentakeadvantageofcomputerizationanddigitizationinthecontextofexistingand emergingorganicandnaturalproductsmarkets,thereisanurgentneedtobuildoncurrent initiatives.Existingnodesofactivityneedtobedevelopedintoastronginteractivemarketing network.ThisrequirestraininginbasicICTskills,emarketingskills,websitemanagement, visionbuilding,andexposuretoICTserviceproviders,marketingorganizationsandregulations andstandardsbodies.Oneofthemainconcernsofnewentrantsintotheorganicmarketisthe smallconsumerbaseandthelackofmarketpremium.Aneffectivewayofcreatingand maintainingthesemarketswouldbetoputbuyersindirectcontactwithgrowers,andthisis whereinformationtechnologyandconnectivityareakeymediumexchange.

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

4. 4.1

Immediateworkshopoutcomesandchangesresultingfromthepilotworkshop Specificimmediatefollowup: Developmentofapolicybriefonorganicfarmingandclimatechangeforpolicymakersin preparationforCopenhagenConferenceonClimateChangeinDecember2009; FollowupcorrespondencewithPermanentSecretary,MinistryofAgriculture,Jamaicato includeatleastoneorganicfarmperparishinthepilotinitiativetotestoutparametric indexinsuranceinthecountry; SendorganicfarmingandclimatechangeresearchfindingsandreferencestoheadofCCC, Jamaica; Localdevelopmentofcustomizedsoftwarepackageforonlinecarbonfootprintonline measurementtoolforusebysmallholderfarmersintheCaribbean; Drawupplansforfurtherregionaltrainingworkshopsforwomenfarmers.

4.2

Generaloutcomes: FurtherrefinementoftheNIDmethodologicaltrainingmodelforsemitechnicalwomen farmerstoincludeclimatechange; Connectingthenewparticipantstoothersintheircountrieswhoarecurrentmembersof theKnowingandGrowingnetwork; Criticalawarenessofthelocalinstitutionalsupportthatneedsfurtherdevelopmentto ensurethattheyarenotfunctioningatcrosspurposesbutalsothattheyinvolveand engagefarmers.Thisincludesthoseresponsibleforsolidwastemanagement,national securityforces,nationalwatercommission,forestry,meteorologicaloffice,climaterisk insurancebodies,tourism,aquaandfisheriesdevelopment,etc; AcknowledgementthatJOAMisanimportantplayerfortheregionasawholeandthat moreneedstobedonetobuildinhousecapacity,humanresourcesandfundingbase; Buildingthetheoreticalandtechnicalknowledgebaseofwomenfarmersinorganicfarming philosophyandtechniquesandinorganicstandardsintheregion; Stimulatingthecrossfertilisationoforganicknowhowandmanagementprocesses betweenfarmingentrepreneursintheregion,usingtraditionalmeansofcommunications andevolvinginformationtechnologies; HarnessingthoseaspectsoftheInternet,whichwillprovidewomenfarmentrepreneursin theregionwithrelevantcommunication,marketing,managementandinformationtools; Continuetowidenanddeepentheregionalinformationandmarketingnetworkoforganic farmersinitiatedinApril2004,tohelplocalfarmersmarketthemselvesonothervirtual networksandtonetworkwitheachother.

NIDwillcontinuetoworkwithwomentoenablethemtofindtheirvoicesandalliancesand networkforactionbeyondthefarm. 5. NIDTrainingMethodology

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

Theworkshopfacilitatorsensuredthattheworkshopprovidesparticipantswithopportunities to: drawthelinksbetweentheirindividualactions,theircollectiveactivitiesandthe political,tradeandagriculturalcontextsthattheyworkin; recognizethepotentialimpactoftheirlocaldecisionsonnational,regionaland internationaldevelopments,includingadaptingtoandmitigatingtheeffectsof climatechange,itsimpactsonfoodpolicyandsecurity; realizethattheyaremembersofaworldwidemovementthatflourishesbeyond theirimmediatecommunitieswhosharethesamegoalsandvisions; engageindiscussionswitharangeoflocalandregionalinstitutionalbodiesthatare responsiblefortheenvironment,conservationandmanagingclimatechange. Womenareoftenfacedwithrealandimmediatechoicesanddecisionssuchaswhetherornot touseGMOseedswithoutalltheinformationathand.Itisstrikinghowmanymyths, misconceptions,ormisinterpretationsaboundinbothorganicfarmingandinICTs.Thereare alsobroaderandemergingconcernsregardingclimatechangeanditsnegativeconsequences formanyfarmersthattheorganizersaddressthroughthetechnicaltraining. KnowingandGrowingprovidesaconfluenceofinterestbetweenwomenfarmerswhoneed capacitybuildingbothintheirfarmingmethodsandmanagementandintheirinformationand computerskills.ICTtraininghasmoreimmediateoutcomeswhenthetrainingisofferedwithin acontextthatlendsitselftothebenefitsofferedbyICTsparticularlyinnetworkingand communicationsbetweenandamongstinterest/usergroups.Thereisadditionalvaluein bringingdispersedgroupstogetherfortechnicaltrainingbecauseparticipantsoftenfind commonsolutionstocommonproblems,exploretechnicalskillstogetherandlearnfromeach other,andthelearningprocessandcommunicationchannelsofferedbyICTsbringthemcloser togetherlongafterthetrainingworkshopends.NIDcapitalizesonthedynamicsofbringing womentogetherandofferingthemthespacetoexploretechnicalknowhowandrelated experiencesandalwayswithinasocioeconomicandpoliticalcontext. NIDandJOAMdeliveratriedandtestedtrainingmethodology,thekeystonesofwhichinclude: Ensuringthateveryparticipantisbroughtintothedialogueanddiscussionright fromthebeginningoftheprogramasequalandvaluedcontributorsofknowledge andexperience; Bringinginawiderangeoflocalcontentandlocalstakeholderstocontributelocal contextandanalysistotheoverallprogram,whileprovidingtheparticipantswith theopportunitytointeractdirectlywithspecialists; Providingsomestructuretotheoverallprogramwhileallowingforfluidityand changesasdeterminedbytheparticipantsandotherlocalstakeholders. Inthisway,acomprehensivetrainingprogramisdesignedanddevelopedincollaborationwith participants,resourcepersonsandlocalmediatororserviceagencieswhereverpossible.This ensuresfullandactiveparticipationonanongoingbasisbetweenparticipantsandlocal resourcepersons,andmaximisesthelearningprocess.

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

Thefocusofthetrainingispeoplecentredratherthangoalorientedandisguidedultimatelyby theprocessofselfdiscovery.Thismethodoftrainingencouragesconfidencebuilding,skillsin problemsolvingandselfempowerment.Itisaparticularlyeffectivemodeoftrainingforthose whovaluethecreationofnetworksandpeergroupstobuildalliancesandtoshareideas. Ourworkshopsprovidespaceforfivedifferentcomponentsfortraininginteraction: Onlinetrainingsessions Issuespecificfacilitateddiscussions Contextspecificdiscussions Fieldtrip Videoscreeningsanddiscussions

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

Appendices AppendixI: AppendixII: AppendixIII:

Workshopschedule Participantdetails NID&JOAMProfiles

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

WorkshopProgramAnnex1

9.00 10.30am

DayI:Sat27thJune

11.00 Arrivals&registrations 12.30pm Refreshmentsfor participants (M.Sc.classroom,UWI) 2.00 Introductions, 3.30pm backgroundto workshop,workshop objectives,introto Knowing&Growing network 4.00 Presentation& 5.30pm facilitateddiscussion: Drawingthelinks betweenorganicfarming andclimatechange:why thisisimportantthe roleoftheorganicfarm Evening DVD&groupdiscussion program Organicfarming& climatechange

DayII:Sun28thJune NaturalsystemsWhat makesupnaturalsystems? weatherforecast,seasonal driversandprediction capacity Sealevelriseimpactswhat thiswillmeanforlanduse, farming&forestryinthe Caribbean Landdegradation& conservationn Conservingcropandwild speciesseedsourrich heritageofbiodiversity. Floodanderosioncontrol Agriculture&farming systems Howtheorganicfarmcan mitigateagainstclimate change.Preparationfor, during&postdisaster Presentation&discussion Weatherstations&data collection:Clifford Mahlung, Jamaica MeteorologicalService

DayIII:Mon29thJune FarmVisit WoodfordMarketGarden DonnaNoble,organic farmer Farmvisitmapping exerciseDavidDolly,Erle NoronhaRahamanand DorienneRowanCampbell Computerroom Virtualvisitoftwolocal organicfarms:Rowans RoyaleBlueMountain Coffeefarm&Markus Braunsvegetablefarm Discussionroundtable Farmvisitreflections Localknowledge&climate change,howtocombine thiswithorganic& permaculturemethods, sharingourlearnings Presentation&discussion Forestry&climatechange OwenEvelyn,Senior Director,Forestry Department,Jamaica

DayIV:Tues30thJune Climateriskinsurance NormanFoster,V.P, RegionalBusiness Development,CGM Brokers Footprintsonthefarm Mappingyourfarms carbonfootprint Computerroom Basictrainingfor beginners onlinesourcesand informationforseasoned surfers Computerroomcont. GISMapping Carbonfootprint measures Socialevent DinneratUWI

DayV:Wed1stJuly Finalworkingsession Nextsteps:howparticipants couldfollowup,identifying priorityneeds,training& resources. 10.30Publicforum (InterFacultyLectureRoom) Presentation,discussion, questionstoconsider Thanks&departures

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

AppendixII:Participantdetails LastName FirstName Bryan Markus Raslyn David Audrey Ashley Eistein Oronder Donna Mario Maria Country Jamaica Jamaica St.Kitts Trinidad Jamaica Jamaica Jamaica Jamaica Jamaica Barbados Jamaica Trinidad Jamaica Jamaica Jamaica Jamaica Canada Jamaica St.Kitts Jamaica Addressdetails Email

1 Anderson 2 Braun 3 Connor 4 Dolly 4 Hamilton 5 HamiltonTaylor 6 McLean 7 McNish 8 Noble 9 Porchetta 10Protz

KnightsvilleDistrict, Bryananderson57@yahoo.com YallahsP.O,St.Thomas LambsRiverP.O, Mkcaribbra@gmail.com Westmoreland Saddlers,Basseterre Rasbogo@hotmail.com UniversityofWestIndies, Farmdavid42@gmail.com St.AugustineCampus Audrey5056@gmail.com Dept.ofMathematics& aghamiltontaylor@gmail.com, ComputerScience,UWI, Ashley.taylor@uwimona.edu.jm MonaCampus,Kingston7 Cumberland,Portmore Eistein_u@yahoo.com PortMorant,MorantBay, Orondemcnish@yahoo.com St.Thomas Woodlands,Woodford, dnoble@j2ltd.net St.Andrews UNHouseMarine Mario.porchetta@undp.org Garden,ChristChurch POBox291,St.AnnsBaymariaprotz@cwjamaica.com 15LaSeivaRoad,Maravalwasamaki@tstt.net.tt 75HopeBoulevard, dorienne.rowancampbell@gmail.com Kingston 133PalmettoMeadows, Clarendon 35BougainvillaAve, shernangel@hotmail.com MONAHeights,Kingston RobinsRiverDist. Beeston,Westmoreland 461RoncesvallesAvenue, SuiteD,Toronto,ON, nidhi@networkedintelligence.com CanadaM6R2N4 Environmental Environmentalmgt@yahoo.com Management,UWI LowerMonkeyHill,St. littleflour@gmail.com Peter AnnottoBayP.OSt.Mary Cammeliawhyte@gmail.com

11RahamanNoronha Erle 12RowanCampbell 13Scott 14Spencer 15Stewart 16Tandon 17ThomasHope 18Williams 19Whyte Dorienne Keitha Shernette Barbara Nidhi Elizabeth Fleurette Cammelia

KNOWING AND GROWING WORKSHOP REPORT JAMAICA JUNE 2009

AppendixIII: NID&JOAMProfiles NetworkedIntelligenceforDevelopment(NID)(www.networkedintelligence.com)isaToronto basednetworkofindependentconsultantsandtrainersspecializinginnewmedia,information andcommunicationtechnologies,ruralcommunicationsanddevelopment.Ourconsultantshave heldseniorpositionsinmultilateralorganizations,governmentalandintergovernmental organizations,broadcastingandmediainstitutions,researchinstitutesandnongovernmental organizations. Weareabletoprovideadviceandknowhowonawiderangeofeconomicdevelopmentconcerns offeringafirsthandunderstandingofgrassroots,smallbusinessandgovernmentlevelpolicy planning.Establishedin1997withacommitmenttopromotingeconomicandsocialequity,we workwithawidespectrumofcommunitiesatdifferentlevelsindevelopingandtransition countries. Ourcommonmissionandobjectiveistoharnessthebenefitsofevolvinginformationand communicationtechnologiesandnewmedia,toenablepeopletotelltheirownstories,tobring outtheircreativityandtoexpresstheirinformedchoicesaboutthedecisionsthataffecttheirlives andidentitiesintheinformationera. TheJamaicaOrganicAgricultureMovementLimited(JOAM)www.joam.org.jmisanonprofit, nongovernmentalorganizationcreatedtofosteranorganicagricultureindustryinJamaica.The missionofJOAMistofacilitatethedevelopmentofasustainableandeconomicallyviableorganic agriculturesectorinJamaicawhilemaintainingorganicintegrity,promotinghealth, environmentalconsciousness,andsocialresponsibility. JOAMwasestablishedinMay2001.Initsyearsofexistence,JOAMhasmadesignificantstridesin thedevelopmentofthelocalorganicindustryandisconsideredtheleadingorganicagriculture organizationintheCaribbeanregion.ThemainobjectivesofJOAMareto: Lobbyforandassistinthedevelopmentofaneffectivelocalorganicagriculture industry Assistlocalproducerswhoareinterestedintheconversiontoandcertificationin organicagriculture Promoteandfacilitatetheproduction,distributionandconsumptionofalltypesof organicagricultureproducts Advanceandpromotebetterenvironmentalandhumanhealththroughthe acceptanceandpracticeoforganicfarmingtechniques ThefocusofJOAMoverthelasttwoyearshasbeeninstrengtheningtheorganization,increasing organicproductionandcertification,andlayingaframeworktobuildandstrengthenthelocal industry.JOAMcontinuestobethesourceofknowledgeonorganicagricultureandhasbeen involvedinthetrainingoffarmers,extensionofficersandtechnocratsintheprinciplesand techniquesoforganicagriculture.

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Thesuccessofthisworkshopwasassuredduetotheparticipationandenthusiasmofallthe participantsandresourcepersonsandtheextrasupportofafewpeople. Ourspecialthanksandacknowledgementsgoto: DiegoAriasCarballo,LACteam,TheWorldBank AshleyHamiltonTaylor,DeptofMathematicsandComputerScience,UWI,Jamaica ElizabethHopeThomas,ProfessorandDirector,EnvironmentalManagementUnit,UWI,Jamaica RaymondMartin,Chairman,JamaicaOrganicAgricultureMovement BetsyMcCann,RodaleInstitute,USA DonnaNoble,FarmManager,WoodfordMarketGarden,Jamaica ShannonPritchard,NetworkedIntelligenceforDevelopment,Canada MarioPorchetta,CARUTAUNDP,Barbados DorienneRowanCampbell,JOAMandNID,Jamaica JacquelineSmith,LogisticsCoordinator,Jamaica VivienneVassall,ProgrammeManagerm,EnvironmentalManagementUnit,UWI,Jamaica
ENDNOTES i Whatmakesourfoodsystemreallyunsustainableisthepredominanceoftheglobalisedcommoditytrade thathasresultedintheintegrationofthefoodsupplychainanditsconcentrationinthehandsofafew transnationalcorporations.Thisinturnhasgreatlyincreasedthecarbonfootprintandenergyintensityof foodproductionandconsumption. ii ClimateChange2007:impacts,AdaptationandVulnerability.ContributionofWorkingGroupIItothe FourthAssessmentReportoftheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,CambridgeUniversityPress, Cambridge,UK,pp.173210 iii AscodifiedintheFAO/WHOCodexAlimentarius,OrganicAgricultureisaholisticproductionmanagement systemwhichpromotesandenhancesagroecosystemhealth,includingbiodiversity,biologicalcyclesand soilbiologicalactivity.Itemphasizestheuseofmanagementpracticesinpreferencetotheuseofofffarm inputs,takingintoaccountthatregionalconditionsrequirelocallyadaptedsystems.Anorganicproduction systemisdesignedtoa)enhancebiologicaldiversitywithinthewholesystem;b)increasesoilbiological activity;c)maintainlongtermsoilfertility;d)recyclewastesofplantandanimalorigininordertoreturn nutrientstotheland,thusminimizingtheuseofnonrenewableresources;e)relyonrenewableresources inlocallyorganizedagriculturalsystems;f)promotethehealthyuseofsoil,waterandairaswellas minimizeallformsofpollutiontheretothatmanyresultfromagriculturalpractices;(CodexAlimentarius 1999)TheFAOdefinitionofOrganiciscertifiedorganicproductsarethosewhichhavebeenproduced, stored,processed,handledandmarketedinaccordancewithprecisetechnicalspecifications(standards) andcertifiedasorganicbyacertificationbody. iv InternationalTradeCentreUNCTAD/WTOandFiBLOrganicFarmingandClimateChange2007.Intwo longtermcomparisonexperimentsinSwitzerland,theglobalwarmingpotentialofallcropswasreducedby 18%intheorganicplots.