Chemicals

In 2006 three farmers were selected to be part of the T Farms (Farmers Access to regional Markets) project. The project was part of Repsol E T Ltd s (Repsol) CSR Strategy. The project was decided on upon after Repsol commissioned a report by the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business which identified that agriculture was a major source of revenue for the community, despite the presence of numerous other energy related companies. The TT Farms project would provide small farmers with access to regional markets, reduce their risk and increase their profitability by allowing farmers to collectively focus on production, which would be supplied to a major marketer through a pre discussed M.O.U. Three more farmers were added in 2008 increasing the size of the group and their capacity for production. Repsol through its involvement has also provided the group of farmers with group dynamic training and other competency strengthening exercises and the group as a result of this is currently in the process of legally registering the Mayaro Greenhouse Growers Association (MGGA) whose philosophy is To provide with the Highest Available Standards & Quality; the most Healthy & Consumable Greenhouse Grown Food Products within our National Market emphasizing on Consistency, Reliability, Sustainability & continuous organizational Maturity and development through hard work and collective experience. The project proposed is two pronged. Firstly the group seeks to implement an environmentally safe method to address their current constraint of an adequate water supply. The group after research and consultation proposes a Water Catchment System to their existing greenhouses. The MGGA also recognized that their concerns are not new and that there is a need for awareness and sensitization of such issues. As such the second part of the project is the Young Growers Programme to be implemented at the Mafeking Government Primary School. The project will see the conversion of a building on the school s compound to a Greenhouse. The project exposes students to the intricacies of growing fruit and vegetables under protective conditions in a Greenhouse and also the need for conservation and protection of our natural resources. The implementation of the Water Catchment System and the Young Growers Programme directly ties in to the GEF/SGP Country Programme Strategy focus on sustainable organic agricultural projects, waste management and climate change initiatives and also the micro-enterprise component. The project is budgeted to cost USD $58,052.00. The MGGA is requesting USD $48,755.00. The funds will be used to purchase the required materials to implement the system. Additional funds for the project will come from REPSOL E T Ltd. as part of their Corporate Social Investment Programme and will cover the conversion and outfitting of the greenhouse on the school s compound as well as the administration of the programme to students.

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