Members of the Ladelin (Delcer) Women Farmers Association have received irrigation equipment from the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM), aimed at alleviating the challenges they face in sourcing water for their crops.
On Friday, October 17, 2025, the farmers’ association, which is based in Choiseul, received a blended irrigation system, including drip lines and sprinklers. A new main water supply line will also be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Engineering Unit to alleviate many of the challenges the farmers face in sourcing water for their farms.
Under the project, 25 farmers will now be able to grow a variety of crops, including sweet potatoes, peanuts, cabbages, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, eggplants, and seasoning peppers, with an easier supply of water.
During the official handover ceremony held at the Delcer R.C. Combined School, H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said the occasion was yet another milestone in the strong partnership between Taiwan and Saint Lucia toward advancing sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.
She said the project aimed at enhancing irrigation capacity in Delcer was not just about installing equipment but also symbolic of a shared vision of empowering communities, particularly women farmers, to adapt to climate challenges and improve their livelihoods.
“In the past, many farmers in this area relied solely on rainfall for their crops. During the dry season, water shortages often led to unstable harvests. With this irrigation system, farmers can now draw water directly from the main source to their fields, ensuring a steady and reliable water supply. This will help production and improve both income and food security,” Ambassador Su explained.
Ambassador Su said the Taiwan Technical Mission was pleased to work with the Ladelin (Delcer) Women Farmers Association, whom she described as an impressive group of dedicated women focusing on agriculture and self-reliance.
She noted that in May this year, the Taiwan Technical Mission also partnered with Massy Stores in Choiseul to promote seedless watermelons. These sweet and juicy seedless watermelons are not genetically modified, she stressed but are grown using traditional agricultural techniques through cross-pollination.
Ambassador Su extended appreciation and gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan Technical Mission, and Ladelin (Delcer) Women Farmers Association, for partnering on the irrigation project.
Hon. Bradly Felix, Parliamentary Representative for Choiseul/Saltibus, was thankful to the Taiwan Technical Mission for supporting the Ladelin (Delcer) Women Farmers Association, adding that Taiwan has always been a very good friend.
Despite the endless supply of water in the area, he said there is a continuous problem with water not reaching various farmers at different times. Nevertheless, he congratulated the Ladelin farmers for their tenacity and resilience.
“You have been given a gift, and I’m hoping that Taiwan can become a permanent partner with you: to continue to assist you with the challenges you face,” Hon. Felix said. “Farming is not easy – there are lots of challenges. In many countries, we see governments playing a more forceful role in assisting our farmers. While I know government plays a major role in assisting farmers, we always believe that there can be a lot more done towards our farmers, who are the breadwinners of many households.”
Dr. Randel Esnard, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, said the Seven Crops Project is one of the flagship projects in the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission, and has been instrumental in efforts to reduce the food import bill by 25% by the year 2030.
Dr. Esnard said the Ministry of Agriculture remains committed in its mandate of ensuring food security. Over the past few years, he said, many interventions geared towards increasing food production and food security have been made.
Ms. Adline Eudovic, Project Coordinator for the Seven Crops Project, explained that the main water supply line that carried water to the plots was undersized, with the resulting irregular water supply and insufficient irrigation limiting production capacity.
“Through the Seven Crops Project, which is funded by the Government of Taiwan, and run through the Ministry of Agriculture, we saw the need to come in and correct that limitation,” she stated. “Today, we are celebrating and realizing yet another goal of the Seven Crops Project. It is one in many of our achievements, all aimed at increasing local production with the view to lowering our high food import bill.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Firmin Lafeuillee, Agricultural Officer for Region 6, noted that farming is never easy task, especially for vulnerable groups in the area: “Climate change impacts our farmers, resulting in our farmers not being able to produce as they should with limited resources. Therefore, the intervention by the Taiwan Technical Mission will definitely assist you in the cultivation of your crops, especially given your water scarcity issues.”
Ms. Nyrie St. Brice, President of the Ladelin (Delcer) Women Farmers Association, said the irrigation equipment was both timely and essential for the farmers whose incomes depend heavily on their production capacity.