SGP NSC Touring Community Projects
The SGP Barbados Team, National Steering Committee and the local media toured two project sites, to Biocultural Education and Research Programme (BERP) located at Neil's Plantation, St Michael and Barbados Youth Action Programme (BYAP), Ashford, St John. The aim of the site visits was to give the NSC members and some of the media the opportunity to see and experience the SGP projects being implemented within communities across Barbados and to provide an additional conduit for the dissemination of work our grantee partners are doing in partnership with SGP.
The first stop to BERP showcased the research being facilitated with under utilized local medicinal plants in Barbados and the growth parameters of phytonutrient rich underutilized plant species such as Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and other plants that could be used for colds and the flu, with the future objective of nutraceutical development.
During the 90 minute visit the team got a briefing on the work being undertaken by BERP as well as a display of value added products produced from some of the underutilized plants being researched. The team also enjoyed samples of purslane soup, breadfruit bread and local juices.
Moving on, the group travelled to Barbados Youth Action Programme (BYAP), Ashford, St John where thirty Barbadian youth from various communities are learning innovative methods in sustainable agriculture. Young people are being trained in agri-preneurship and climate smart organic approaches to agriculture. They are growing crops and also learning new technologies available in agriculture. These advances in agriculture have encouraged many of them to pursue employment opportunities in this sector.
The BYAP participants also displayed the value-added products created from the crops grown including cassava flour, tamarind sauce, carrot juices and jams. Part of the programme includes learning about business, sales, and marketing.
By Karen Harper, Programme Assistant.
