GLOBAL SOIL DOCTOR PROGRAMME (GSDP)
This project was a collaboration between the Government of Antigua & Barbuda, the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (UN-FAO) and Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management (PISLM).
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Global Soil Doctor Programme (GSDP) is a farmer-to-farmer training initiative that was developed by the Global Soil Partnership (GSP). The Programme aims to provide farmers with educational materials to learn about Sustainable Soil Management (SSM). The “champion” farmers – recognized as “Soil Doctors” are selected to support and educate other farmers from their local community. This scheme creates a self-sufficient exchange process that promotes the practice of SSM. The success of the Programme depends to a large extent on the existence of the promoter which is the Analytical Services Department of the MOA, the national institution that facilitates the Programme and interacts with the GSP and all stakeholders. The promoter will provide technical and financial support and ensures the sustainability of the Programme at the national or local level. The promoter knows and understands the local production and socio-economic conditions, challenges, and potential.
The Global Soil Partnership (GSP) has been providing technical support to component 1 of the project, which seeks to “Establish, Update and Strengthen national and regional soils information, technical capacity and coordination as a Basis for Improved Decision Making Including on SSM and Sustainable Land Management (SLM)”. Component 5 of the project focuses on capacity development and knowledge transfer actions. An important part is dedicated to building capacities on soils, SSM and SLM at the grassroots level through the GSP’s Global Soil Doctors Programme (GSDP).
Antigua & Barbuda was selected to pilot this initiative that was held during 13th November- 17th November 2023. Staff members from several areas within the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) were participants of this four days training that consisted of classroom and in the field sessions at the Dunbars Experimental Agricultural Station under the teaching and guidance of Dr. Maria Cruz Ferro Vasquez and Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott from the UN-FAO and the local organizing team members were Mrs. Lael Bertide-Josiah/Analytical Officer, Brent Georges/Project Co-odinator and Mrs. MaudVere Bradford/Senior Research Officer and alternate Focal point.
This was a Soil Doctor certification training: the participants were given kits consisting of digging tools, measuring apparatus, markers, labels, solutions, and work gears all of which were in backpacks provided by the UN-FAO. After the four days of training of the initial participants were evaluated by Dr. Cruz through a duplication process of her training sessions they had received. To become certified “Soil Doctors” these trainees had to efficiently disseminate the information and demonstrate what they were taught in the field to the new set of trainees. Those trained by Dr. Cruz were: Anika Aska, Oneicia Anthony, Petranilla Estreada-Joseph, Joel Matthew (Extension Officers), Ayo Simon (Backyard Garden Facilitator), Vernon Eden Bird and Jarmel Charles (Lab Analysts), Jamal Colbourne (Plant Protection Officer), Omar Nedd (Veterinary &Livestock Officer), Jahmani Thomas and Renice Nichols (Agricultural Station technicians) and Carol-Faye Bynoe-George (Communication Officer).
The evaluation process included the further training of other staff members by those that were trained by Dr. Cruz and Mrs. Bobb-Prescott. Trainees that were trained by the FAO trained participants were Victor Wade and Kenrick Francis (Extension Officers), Shakkia Walcott (Forestry assistant), Iesha Williams (Agricultural Station assistant) and Amber Francis (Lab Assistant). Training of actual farmers is scheduled to commence within the upcoming week.