Feature: CARDI making big strides in securing external funding for Caribbean agriculture

The Caribbean Agriculture and Research Development Institute (CARDI) has implemented a deliberate strategy at its Trinidad and Tobago Head Office to focus on Resource Mobilization under the stewardship of Dr. Arlington Chesney, Executive Director.

The unit was instituted in 2008 to attract and retain financial resources for research for development from international and regional sources. 

A media release Monday said the search for funds became necessary because contributions from member states have not increased relative to inflation over the years. "In order to implement the mandate given by member states, CARDI must therefore, by necessity, seek external financial sources," the release stated. 

For the period 2005-2007 CARDI secured some EC$3.7M in funding for regional agriculture research for development. Under the Medium Term Policy (MTP) 2008-2010, the unit secured five times the previous amount.

The CARDI team has so far secure EC$27 million for fund its agenda for agriculture research in the Caribbean.

The goal for MTP 2011-2013 is to secure EC$38M for regional agriculture research in order to reduce CARDI's dependence on contribution from member states.

CARDI's Priority projects identified for 2012 include:

• Small Ruminants (sheep and goats) – major beneficiaries include Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago 
• Roots and Tubers (cassava and sweet potato) – major beneficiaries include Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago 
• Hot Peppers – all CARDI countries, including Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica and St Vincent & the Grenadines 
• Protected Agriculture – major beneficiaries include Barbados, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago 
• Climate Change and Agriculture – all CARDI countries vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change, with a focus of activities in Antigua & Barbuda, Belize and Jamaica 
• Control of Invasive Species (Red Palm Mite – affecting the coconut industry and Black Sigatoka disease – affecting the regional banana and plantain industries). 

The Unit is also responsible for the vigilant monitoring of the implementation of projects and systems; and the evaluation component (which includes impact analysis and reporting on the long-term impacts and outcomes) of all projects.