AGROTOURISM IN THE GREEN ECONOMY

Roxanne WaitheAgrotourism Specialist, IICA Office In Barbados

20TH September 2012

POLICY CONCERNS & INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

FOR THE CARIBBEAN

•Agriculture in the Green Economy•Agrotourism in the Green Economy•Status Caribbean Agrotourism – project initiatives and policy concerns•Opportunities for Investment

There can be no Green Economy without Agriculture.

Main concerns:1)Producing more food with fewer resources

2)Using sustainable agricultural practices that minimize the negative impacts of farming activities on the environment

3)Adopting approaches and decisions that enable smallholder farmers to break the cycle of poverty

“….. Jamaica imports US$900 million worth of food every year and

they have a population of approximately 3 million people. Barbados has a population of just over 250,000, we receive about

500,000 tourists every year, and our food import bill is US$700 million.

That makes us three times more food insecure than Jamaica!”

Dr. Chelston Brathwaite

Projected losses in food production due to climate change by 2080.

Source: The Environmental Food Crisis. The Environment's Role in Averting Future Food Crises. A UNEP Rapid Assessment Report. 2009

Agritourism Agrotourism

Any activity, enterprise or business thatlinks agriculture with products, services

and experiences in tourism.

EcotourismResponsible travel to natural areas that

conserves the environment andimproves the well-being of local people.

Agro-ecotourismTravel to rural farming communities that strive

to protect their natural and man-made resources by using eco-friendly agricultural practices

Health & Wellness: Spas, Local remedies

Community festivals

Farm Tours Rural B & B

Culinary Tourism

Agro-trade (Agribusiness)

Historic plantations & agri-museums

“...All travellers eat and drink

... Therefore food and drink have a greater ability to make long-lasting memories than any other kind of tourism experience ….”

Eric Wolf - President, International Culinary Tourism Association Publisher, FoodTrekker.com

• Participate in food production (and consumption)

• Learn about the lives of rural people

• Escape the hustle of the city

• Connect with nature

Agriculture

Nature

HeritageAdventure

Recent developments: IICA/CARICOM/OAS Agrotourism Conference

Sep 20 – 22, 2011

St. Vincent and the GrenadinesAgrotourism Committee

• Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry and Fisheries (MARTFF)

• Ministry of Tourism and Industry (MTI)• Ministry of Rural Transformation, Information et al• Inter-America Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

(IICA)• Hotel Association• Taxi Driver’s Association• WINFA• SVG Bureau of Standards (SVBS)• Taiwan Technical Mission• Cruise lines reps./Tour operators

Component 1 Assessment of sites for potential agro-ecotourism

development

2 Sanitary and safety equipment installed

3 Training workshops

4 Tour Routes Established and labeled

5 Promotional Materials Developed

6 Sites HACCP and ISO certified

7 Modification of present facilities to accommodate visitors

8 Project Evaluation

National Agrotourism Project – SVG

Project Sites

The national Agrotourism programme obtained funding (US$53,990) from the Organisation of American States (OAS) to develop the following sites:

•The Orange Hill Agricultural Cooperation Farm supported by Taiwanese Farmers•The Cassava and Arrowroot Factories at Orange Hill•Everdale Farms at Wallilabou•The Fruit Treecrop Germplasm Bank at Peter’s Hope•The National Properties Farm at Mt Wynne

Project Status

Five training courses completed:

Hospitality and Customer Service

Health and safety – Basic First Aid and Managing Emergency and evacuation on a farm

Food preparation and Handling on farm tourism sites

Tour guiding

Business Management and Marketing

• Tools and safety equipment bought

• 300 labels/signs for trees

• 3 story boards completed

• Rehabilitation of Building at Peters Hope

• Fencing and Provision of Security Bars and Grills for Site

Agrotourism in

Grenada

Grenada’s Agro Tourism Product/Service Initiatives by Segments

•Flamboyant & La Source hotels – farming contracts with farmers; Spice Isle Resort/Farmer Arrangements – Over EC$1 million in agricultural produce traded(high Multiplier Effect )

• Agro- Processors’ products used in tourism promotions by Grenada Board of Tourism - De La Grenade products(jams jellies, syrups liqueurs etc) Rums, Flowers, coconut sweet products

•80% of Fresh Vegetable needs by a hotels are supplied locally but nearly 100% of meat needs are imported.

o Development of Gouyave Town(West Coast) as a Fish Friday Centre- weekly fish fry night, art, craft, local entertainment

o Mt. Moritz Breakfast @EC$10.00 –traditional West Indian breakfast serving salt fish, fried jacks, bakes, juice, cocoa tea etc. every last Sunday of the month

o St Mark’s Food Festival –local foods served in the parish every last Saturday of the month

o Parish festivals –Fisherman’s Birthday, Rainbow City Festival, St. Patrick’s Day, Sailing Festivals Day, Tivoli Saraca etc. where local foods are predominately featured

National Assessment on the Gouyave Fish Friday (2007)

•Revenue/Earnings: the total dollar impact was approx. one million EC dollars/annum

• Increased fish catch and sales • Increased sale of produce and groceries by the

shops and super markets in the community• Social impacts: employment and job

creation(hiring of assistants, entertainers etc.)• Enhancement of community pride- putting Gouyave “on the map”,

enhancement of community infrastructure

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Kirani+James+Grenada&um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=619&tbm=isch&tbnid=qR0mt8taj2HKkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.gov.gd/egov/news/2011/aug11/30_08_11/item_2/pm_congratulates_kirani_james.html&docid=dbiK7qXWtSjuqM&w=362&h=296&ei=hmR1ToMFxaO2B_LE9MwM&zoom=1

Nutmed products including the well known Nutmed Spray by Noelville Company

Belzeb is a producer of natural aromatherapy, spa and herbal products from Caribbean fruits and herbs. Its products are featured in Moi Spa at Mount Cinnamon Hotel

Arawak Islands Company produces lifestyle products as soaps, colognes, insect repellants, candles using local herbs and flowers

• Belmont Estate – functioning organic cocoa estate: farm tours, horticulture, goat dairy and offers an ultimate Caribbean agro-tourism adventure.

• Mango Festival - July 2009, 2010 & 2011: The Theme for the 2011 Festival was “Embracing the King of fruits for nutritional, social and economic benefits for our nation”

• Laura’s Herb & Spice Garden – spice tours and sale of processed spices

• Grenada Sugar Factory & Westerhall Estates Ltd.(historic rum distilleries)

1. Lack of a national policy on agro-tourism2. Perception of juggling for lead sector priority

between “Agriculture” and “Tourism”, instead of capitalizing on the symbiotic relationship between the two

3. Difficulty in accessing credit for development of agro-tourism products

4. Lack of institutional support for agro-tourism5. High foreign exchange leakages in the purchasing

of imported foods by the hotels and restaurants

Workshop Session Objectives:

1.Identify priority areas for agritourism development in St. Eustatius

2.Specify critical actions required to support agritourism development