The Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF), a satellite agency of the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, has officially launched a Mini Agricultural Project under its flagship Koudemen Sent Lisi (KSL) Programme. This initiative, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, seeks to strengthen household resilience and provide sustainable income-generating opportunities for vulnerable families.
A cohort of 11 households currently enrolled in the KSL Programme has been selected to participate in the pilot project. On Friday, August 15, participants commenced their initial training session at the Vieux Fort Fisheries Complex, led by Ministry of Agriculture professionals including Mr. Francis Khodra (Regional Head), Ms. Antonia Jagroop (Regional Head), and Mr. Marakiah Auguste (Extension Officer).
“At KSL, we work assiduously to offer hope and a promise of a brighter future to our clients. Through this agriculture project, we hope to equip participants with knowledge and farming skills that will enhance their family outreach. As such, they will be better able to manage their farms and backyard gardens to facilitate an improved quality of food consumption as well as develop prospects of a farming business as they market and sell their produce around the island. It is our vision at KSL and the SSDF that many more sustainable businesses will be born out of this agriculture initiative,” Koudemen Sent Lisi Project Coordinator Ms. Wendy Monrose said.
The Koudemen Sent Lisi Programme is designed to provide comprehensive support to the most vulnerable households across Saint Lucia through a suite of social and economic empowerment initiatives. One of the recurring challenges faced by these households is insufficient income caused primarily by unemployment and underemployment.
The Mini Agricultural Project directly addresses this gap by equipping participants with practical knowledge and technical skills in small-scale farming. By enabling families to establish, manage, and develop sustainable farms, the project aims to create new sources of disposable income, enhance food security, and reduce dependency on external assistance.
Through initiatives such as this, the SSDF continues to advance its mission of empowering communities, reducing poverty, and promoting inclusive social development across Saint Lucia.