The capacity of farmers in and around Saint David to create value-added products, reduce produce loss, increase earning potential and improve their livelihoods has been significantly enhanced with the opening of the GRENROP Coconut Processing Plant and Chill Room.

The project, which benefited from a US $78,000 donation from the Sandals Foundation was made possible with support from Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Chinese Agriculture Mission, the World Bank’s Agricom project, and the International Trade Center.

The Agro Processing Plant will facilitate the manufacturing of coconut flour, coconut flakes, virgin coconut oil and coconut cooking oil through grating, straining and boiling. To date, the team has secured local markets for the products including four (4) hotels that will receive virgin coconut oil and coconut flakes to be used in their spas, and two (2) supermarkets that will receive all by-products.

Speaking at the opening of the facility on April 3, President of the Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers (GRENROP), Theresa Marecheau (pr. Marryshow) said, “This [processing plant] not only impacts the community, but Grenada as a whole. As the market increases, we will be able to employ more people, support the demands that we have, and keep foreign exchange in the country.”

The introduction of the chillroom Marryshow said, will benefit the wider farmer community who will be able to deliver produce in bulk once a week, where it can be stored for up to a month without spoilage.

“Without a chill room there is remarkable spoilage taking place in the fields. We now have storage facility with a receiving room, weighing area and storage equipment to keep bulk orders from three to four farmers per week. We are now able to store, package and deliver to hotels two or three times a week, and farmers are able to increase their production because they now have a direct market,” said Marryshow.

For its part, the Sandals Foundation funded the renovation of the buildings that host the processing facility and the chill room, a water catchment system to support its operation, as well as the purchase, shipping, and installation of all machinery for the production facility.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at Sandals Foundation, said, “By having the capacity to transform raw agricultural products into higher-value goods, each farmer will be able to increase their income, explore new and might I say global markets, and ultimately contribute more to local economy and the island’s food security.”

Speaking to the longstanding partnership between the philanthropic organisation and the female-led farming group, Clarke said, “GRENROP sought to create a space for women from all backgrounds and experiences to be empowered through agriculture knowledge, access to technical expertise and the right technology to make informed decisions about their livelihoods and lives. When the Sandals Foundation met and became partners of GRENROP our goal was simple – utilize the network and resources we have at our fingertips to support the efforts of this group of focused, resilient, and visionary women.”

Since 2016, the Sandals Foundation and partner donors have invested some US $200,000 in the empowerment of the female and vulnerable youth farm group by supporting the construction of two shade houses, providing water catchment, storage and irrigation technology facilitated training in agriculture business management, record keeping, marketing, conflict resolution, plant care, crop management, and pest control. The organisation has also funded the provision of key farm input like seedling trays, seeds, seedling mixture, fertilizers, and labels to help the ladies embark and have a strong presence within the world of value-added products.

Established in December 2000 as a space where female farmers could gain financial independence through agriculture, the Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers (GRENROP) is now home to 75 female farmers - ages 40 - 75years old, 12 male farmers, 4 fulltime youth farmers under 35 years old, and 3 budding female farmers under the age of 10 whose parents have registered their daughters to be part network.