Community development project launched in P.G.
It is designed to help farmers and residents of the Toledo District help themselves, and today the project was launched in Punta Gorda. News Five was invited down south for the occasion.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Farmers and people of the southern districts of Stann Creek and Toledo will be able to access loans for small projects through a community initiated Agriculture and Rural development project.
Jorge Cawich, Director, CARD Project
“I would like to probably try to give you the definition of what we intend to do with the project so that you can understand that this project is not entirely agriculturally oriented. In other words this is the community initiated agricultural and rural development project which will not focus directly on agriculture but will also focus on rural development activities as well as the management of resources in the southern region. However the main core of the project we will be focusing on agriculture, how farmers can benefit by participating actively in defining their priorities and the formulation of some projects to be financed and funded by the project in the field of agricultural production. It could be diversification as well as some micro-enterprise activities.
Jacqueline Woods
“If a farmer is interested in getting involved or benefiting from this project what should they do?”
Jorge Cawich
“Okay we are still in the initial stage which is the actual implementation schedule. Once we get all our accounting system and the rest of staff all onboard and fully equipped and the rural financial services in place then the project will be in the position to provide micro-credit to farmers as well technical assistance and small scale infrastructure projects. For example it will manage to increase productivity in a particular region within the project region there may be a need to improve accessibility to markets. In other words the project might assist in a community development programme so that feeder roads can be put in place with the adequate infrastructure such as small roads and culverts to have better access to the markets.”
The 14 million dollar project is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, The International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Government of Belize.
