With the goal of redefining inclusion in agriculture, the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) officially commissioned its Aquaponics Facility on July 31, a first in Saint Lucia for a national agricultural project entirely led and operated by people with disabilities.
The facility, currently housed at the NSDC in Vieux Fort, combines organic food production with sustainable technology and community empowerment. It reflects a shift in how inclusion is practised – placing people with disabilities at the centre of innovation, rather than on the sidelines.
NCPD President Merphilus James told St Lucia Times that the idea was rooted in a “bold vision… to create a space where persons with disabilities could not only participate in innovation and sustainability, but lead it.”
Designed and managed by the NCPD, the facility is staffed by a team that includes people who are blind, use mobility aids or have intellectual or physical disabilities. Team members are involved in every stage of the operation, from planting and harvesting to packaging, marketing and system maintenance.
Two co-managers, who have disabilities, oversee daily operations. The Council itself is responsible for the strategic direction of the facility, having sourced the funding, designed the system, trained staff, and established the brand identity.
Currently, the team is cultivating Muir lettuce, a heat-tolerant variety grown organically and sold under a newly launched brand, Organic-Able. According to James, the name is meant to “affirm that persons with disabilities are fully able to grow premium-quality, sustainable food”.
The facility’s long-term goal is to become a national and regional model for inclusive agricultural development. It also aims to reduce unemployment among persons with disabilities, encourage sustainable practices and promote the wider adoption of aquaponics and other green technologies.
James noted that the NCPD envisions similar facilities being replicated in schools and rehabilitation institutions, and by community groups. “We aim to influence policy and inspire a shift in how society views the capabilities of persons with disabilities, not as burdens, but as builders of the future,” he said.
Funding and support for the project were provided by the GEF Small Grants Programme, LUCELEC, Republic Bank, Massy Stores Saint Lucia and Cabot Saint Lucia.
