21/08/2023

Where Women Bloom project empowers women in agriculture

By Ministry Of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Taiwan Technical Mission have launched the visionary project "Where Women Bloom: Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods for Women and Youth through Capacity Building and Inclusivity in the Mushroom Industry."

The landmark endeavor underscored the ministry and its partners’ resolute commitment to advancing women's empowerment, fostering entrepreneurship, and propelling the sustainable growth of the agricultural sector.

As part of the “Where Women Bloom” Project, twenty-five beneficiaries received comprehensive training in small-scale mushroom production, enhancing their capabilities and paving the way for economic independence and self-sufficiency.

The Representative of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Saint Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean States, Gregg Rawlins explains, "The partnership of the Taiwanese technical mission in support of sustainable livelihoods through a focus on producing real impact with women, their capacity building and promoting inclusivity and market participation in industry representation, has been welcomed by IICA. The project where women Bloom is predicated upon the realization that small scale and sustainable mushroom production provides an opportunity to local farmers to diversify their production and to invest in a rural milieu, with potential for high return on investment."

During the certificate ceremony held on Thursday 10 August 2023, each participant received a certificate of completion and was provided with mushroom care kits, symbolizing the project's practical approach to ensuring continued success. These kits serve as tangible tools for nurturing newly acquired skills and knowledge, enabling the women to implement what they have learned and contribute to the growth of the mushroom industry. Ambassador of the Republic of China, Taiwan to Saint Lucia, H.E. Peter Chia-yen Chen underscored the significance of this recognition in validating participants' efforts and reinforcing the dedication of all stakeholders to driving sustainable change and development.

“We are proud to say that this project has benefited the women around the island from porosity, to view for their application training sessions to the preparation for building mushroom houses. Every participant has shown collaborative partnership with our team."

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, Hon. Alfred Prospere emphasized the vital role of women in ensuring food and nutrition security, improving household welfare, and stimulating local economies. He commended the project's holistic approach, covering practical training sessions on the construction of mushroom houses, for its potential to enhance women's participation and elevate the agricultural sector's role in strengthening national food security.

"We know the supportive function of women in the home economy is critical to food and nutrition security, youth and elderly health and well-being as well as providing value-adding functions at the home level that both improve rural household serving while stimulating the local economy. The focus on women goes beyond simply the nature of the grant opportunity made available by the Embassy of the Republic of China in Taiwan, and the Taiwan Technical Mission. It also recognizes that women in agriculture in the Caribbean, as in most developing countries, play important roles in household food security as a country, because our food security depends on you."

The "Where Women Bloom" Project reflects the collective commitment of the agriculture ministry and its sector partners, underscoring a shared vision for a future where women and youth can prosper, and sustainable livelihoods can flourish.

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