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Sustainable Farming on Eleuthera: Challenges and Solutions

Explore the traditional farming techniques and the challenges faced by farmers in Eleuthera. Learn about their experiences with government support, hurricanes, and marketing. Discover the potential benefits of a processing plant and how it can improve the local farming industry.

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Sustainable Farming on Eleuthera: Challenges and Solutions

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  1. Sustainable Eleuthera  Williams College January 2012 ENVI 25

  2. Farm Interviews

  3. Elideux Joseph • Traditional Pothole farming technique • No chemicals or irrigation "Every time someone says thank you, I get rain."  - why he gave away his produce

  4. David Carey • Heavy herbicide use • Lost $30,000 in Hurricane Irene • No insurance; government came to evaluate damages but never followed up • Sells to the packing house, but refuses to do so on a large scale because it's not profitable:  "They're just irresponsible...I've been given $0.12/lb for cabbages, how are you going to do that?...I like working, but I don't like working for nothing!"

  5. Bishop Nixon “They say all the right things, but do nothing.”- on government • Not enough support from government; sells only 10%of produce to packing house • Reserved about Wild Dog Initiative, lost 30 animals to dogs • Head of Farmer's Association in South Eleuthera, currently working on Green House Initiative 

  6. Bishop Dudley Kelly • Lost his crop this year to Irene • Hurricanes are a big challenge to farmers on Eleuthera • Stresses the need for government to encourage youth to become part of agriculture. "If you don't have young men and women in any business, then that business is dying."

  7. Edrin Symonette • Suggests government programs and other start-up assistance for potential farmers  • Recommends both citrus and livestock as profitable ventures, though fixed costs are high • Highly supportive of a processing plant A processing plant would allow farmers to sell grades B-D produce, establish new markets, encourage alternative crops and make farming more attractive as a profession.

  8. Pharis Cash • Takes advantage of government funding and land programs • Has issues with marketing during a glut • Suggested that a  processing plant would be very successful I have too many pumpkins, no one will take them. I just leave them on the ground to rot and go back into the Earth.

  9. Lady Di • Daughter is interested in farming • Soil is rich enough to grow pineapples, always in demand so one of the most successful farmers • Thought that processing plant should not be run by government but rather farmer's association  "I always like to play in the dirt and farming is fun and easy." -Sabrina, Lady Di's daughter.

  10. Packinghouse: Background Operations • Ministry of Agriculture • Middle Man • Straight to Nassau

  11. Packinghouse: Background Operations • Middle Man • Straight to Nassau • Ministry of Agriculture Interviews • Godfrey Deveaux (Packinghouse manager in S. Eleuthera) • Phillip Miller (Under Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture) • Amanda Wells (Agricultural Officer with BAIC)

  12. Packinghouse: Current Issues • Lack of availability of local food on Eleuthera • Low prices for farmers • 9000 dollar cap • Dismantling system?

  13. Packinghouse: Suggestions Communication • Distributing Intermediary • Communicative Link • BAIC (Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation)

  14. Packinghouse: Suggestions Communication • Distributing Intermediary • Communicative Link • BAIC (Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation) 9000 Dollar Cap

  15. Packinghouse: Suggestions Communication • Distributing Intermediary • Communicative Link • BAIC (Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation) 9000 Dollar Cap Packinghouse Future • Expand the role • Only institution in place

  16. Processing Plant

  17. Packing House only buys Grade A produce, Grade B-D either processed by the farmers or is “left on the field” Problems

  18. Problems • Packing House only buys Grade A produce, Grade B-D either processed by the farmers or is “left on the field” • Gluts on certain crops, make their cultivation unprofitable

  19.  Problems  • Packing House only buys Grade A produce, Grade B-D either processed by the farmers or is “left on the field” • Packing House requirements “force” the farmers to use excessive amounts of fertilizers to achieve the Grade A standard • Gluts on certain crops, make their cultivation unprofitable

  20. The Economic Opportunity

  21. Packaging or Canning Containers' Cost (USD) Raw/Processed Product Unit Price of Unprocessed Products (USD) Average Price of Processed (USD) Value Added Through Processing 1 Tomato/Salsa lb 0.68 6 0.50 2 Banana/Banana Chips lb 0.4 10 3 Cabbage/Kimchi 12 for 1 case 7 for 1 lb 0.50 4 Mango/Dried Mango 17 for 1 case 56 for 1 lb Pumpkin/Canned Pumpkin 5 lb 0.25 3 0.50 Watermelon/WtMelon Juice 6 lb 0.3 10 0.40 Assumptions: 1. Pricelist 2. Conservative Estimate of Price of the Processed Good

  22. Equipment Purchased already? • High capacity • Ability to process several crops • Cost: ? • Geography • Stationary The Model

  23. The Model • Geography • Lower capacity • Ability to process several crops • Cost: Vermont Mobile Flash Freeze Unit - USD $75,000 • Mobile

  24. Importance of various types of equipment • Need for training on Marketing and Researching – Simeon Pinder • The Standard of Quality • Niche marketing • Ownership structure • Private • Packing house management • Farmer's association Further Considerations &  Suggestions

  25. Mobile Slaughterhouse • Livestock a good investment for farmers • Large demand

  26. Mobile Slaughterhouse • Livestock a good investment for farmers • Large demand • Available year-round

  27. Mobile Slaughterhouse • Livestock a good investment for farmers • Large demand • Available year-round • More profitable than produce

  28. Mobile Slaughterhouse • Livestock a good investment for farmers • Large demand • Available year-round • More profitable than produce • Young people relatively interested

  29. Mobile Slaughterhouse • Livestock a good investment for farmers • Large demand • Available year-round • More profitable than produce • Young people relatively interested • Issues with livestock production  • Lack of slaughterhouse

  30. Mobile Slaughterhouse • Livestock a good investment for farmers • Large demand • Available year-round • More profitable than produce • Young people relatively interested • Issues with livestock production • Lack of slaughterhouse • Wild dogs

  31. Mobile Slaughterhouse:Why • Mobile slaughterhouse more suitable than stationary • Lower cost: stationary slaughterhouse costs four times as much • Fits needs of geographically dispersed farmers • Decreases stresses put on animals, increasing quality of meat "I would buy local but I have to keep my reputation."  - Chef at high-end restaurant

  32. Mobile slaughterhouse: Operation Public vs. private ownership • inefficiency problem with public ownership. •  default danger with private ownership. • Animal waste • Hides processed to make leather • Other waste can be used to make fertilizer

  33. Restaurants • Potential market, but current problems • Cost • Consistency • Lack of coordination • Interviewed 10 chefs and buyers about local problems

  34. Restaurants: Suggestions Changes to packing house system • Increase communication with buyers • Act as centralized distributor 

  35. Restaurants: Suggestions Changes to packing house system Mobile slaughterhouse • Allows for legal sale of local meat • Faster, fresher delivery

  36. Restaurants: Suggestions Changes to packing house system Mobile slaughterhouse Value added plant • Increases availability • Pre-made food products

  37. Restaurants: Suggestions Changes to packing house system Mobile slaughterhouse Value added plant Increasing marketing of local food • Increases demand for local food • Focus on tourists 

  38. Restaurants: Suggestions Changes to packing house system Mobile slaughterhouse Value added plant Increasing marketing of organics Changing planting of crops • Increasing lettuce, other greens • Focus on what is needed on island

  39. Youth and the Future of Farming

  40. Youth and the Future of Farming “If I had a message to to send to the Bahamian government, it would be to encourage young men.” -Bishop Dudley Kelly on the future of farming

  41. Youth and the Future of Farming • Visit to Central Eleuthera High School

  42. Youth and the Future of Farming • Visit to Central Eleuthera High School • Student demographics

  43. Youth and the Future of Farming • Visit to Central Eleuthera High School • Student demographics • Student interviews

  44. Youth and the Future of Farming Survey Results

  45. Youth and the Future of Farming Survey Results • Did you enjoy farming?

  46. Youth and the Future of Farming Survey Results • Would you consider farming as an occupation?

  47. Youth and the Future of Farming Survey Results

  48. Youth and the Future of Farming Why don't kids like farming?

  49. Youth and the Future of Farming Why don't kids like farming? • Gender divide

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