Helen’s Daughters’ inaugural Unconference on Agriculture was anything but conventional. From its theatrical opening – complete with masqueraders and folk drummers – to interactive sessions, live demonstrations and informal balcony chats, the two-day event delivered fresh, thought-provoking perspectives on the future of agriculture in Saint Lucia and across the Caribbean.
Hosted at Project Chocolat in Soufrière last weekend, the Unconference drew more than 300 attendees each day, an impressive turnout, especially as the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), dubbed “the biggest party in sport”, was unfolding at the same time.
Reflecting on the event’s impact, Helen’s Daughters’ Executive Director Keithlin Caroo-Arfrifa described it as a reimagining of how the agricultural sector is discussed and supported.
“We wanted to do something that wasn’t just bureaucrats talking about farmers but about building up a community and bringing people together… it was extremely successful,” she said.
Conversations throughout the sessions dug into the realities that agriculture stakeholders face daily, while also underscoring how central farming remains to development and everyday life. Several educational “chats” brought together farmers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and youth, bridging voices that are often kept apart.
Farming Under a Hotter Sun
One standout panel, led by CARICOM Climate Envoy and Soloricon founder Dr James Fletcher, tackled the urgent threat of climate change. Fletcher highlighted how rising temperatures are cutting crop yields, affecting both quality and quantity, while also placing new physical burdens on farmers themselves. “The hotter temperatures make it difficult for you as a farmer to work outside. As those temperatures get hotter, it is more difficult, more uncomfortable, and more unhealthy for you to farm,” he said.
Another serious consequence, Fletcher noted, is the disruption of the water cycle, which has made rainfall increasingly difficult to predict and plan for in Saint Lucia, where most farmers depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture.
“We can’t predict the rainfall as we used to. Most of our agriculture is rain-fed. When it does not rain, your crops are under stress, particularly vegetables,” he said.
These environmental pressures are only part of the story. Farmers also face systemic barriers off the field, particularly when it comes to securing financial support to keep their businesses afloat.
Banking on Agriculture
For years, farmers have voiced their frustration with financial institutions, often describing a cycle of rejection when seeking loans, even as other business models with greater volatility are able to secure financing.
One of the panellists, Lucius Ellevic, general manager of the Laborie Cooperative Credit Union, did not mince words as he highlighted what he sees as hypocrisy in lending practices.
“When you look at my credit union, it is true that the percentage of agri-business loans is probably small compared to the rest of the portfolio, but my farmers are the least delinquent,” he said, “Most times when a farmer comes to you, it is for small short-term loans to finance production or capital equipment, compared to the millions that these banks have no horrors giving… Nonsense,” he said.
To address these long-standing challenges, Tracy Polius, chief director (policy) at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), outlined legislative reforms being rolled out across the region. She pointed specifically to the Insolvency Bill and the Secure Transactions Reform, both aimed at improving access to credit for small businesses and farmers.
“The Insolvency Bill allows you, for instance, in the event of a hurricane, to restructure and bring your business back to life instead of selling your assets to repay the bank,” Polius explained. “Secure Transactions allow you to utilise assets apart from your immovable ones. You can now use your tools, other assets, accounts receivable to be able to access credit. These are two pieces of legislation which allow you to improve your business over time.”
The Future of Agriculture
These conversations set the stage for perhaps the most ambitious dialogue of the weekend: reimagining what agriculture could look like in Saint Lucia’s future – a sector still widely associated with the banana industry because of its dominant role from the 1950s through the mid-1990s. While bananas remain symbolic, new agricultural ventures are emerging as viable, forward-looking opportunities, including seamoss, apiculture, cocoa, coffee, and soon, cannabis, once legislation is passed.
Richard Matthias of the Iyanola Apiculture Collective made the case for honey production as an untapped gem. “Our honey is very unique in quality, and we just need to apply the research over a period of time to prove this point,” he said.
Still, the sector’s most pressing challenge is generational. With the average age of a Saint Lucian farmer being about 63, attracting young people to the land is becoming critical. Cocoa grower Mike Ferdinand argued that part of the problem is image. “It’s hard to get people into farming,” he conceded. “You kinda have to let them know it’s hard work, but it’s lucrative if you plan properly. It’s like any other business. When people think of farmers, they think of old clothes, an old van, and to most people, that’s not attractive. So I try to market myself when I go out there.”
For Andre “Pancho” De Caries, cannabis offers a more direct solution. He believes the legalisation of the crop could create a pathway to bring younger cultivators into formal agriculture. “These young men are in their 20s and 30s. You have to lure these guys into the fields. You have to make farming attractive to them. And because they are ganja men, it will be a pleasure to go in the field rather than a task. We’re hoping cannabis starts an agriculture renaissance,” he said.
The Unconference ended with a sense of cautious optimism. While the challenges facing farmers – from climate uncertainty to financing gaps and an ageing workforce – remain daunting, the conversations underscored that solutions are being sought.
