1. Agribusiness Forum
Linking Agrifood Sector To Tourism-
Related Markets
Presented by:
Ms. Carmen Nurse
President of the Caribbean Network of Rural Women Producers

2. Antigua & Barbuda Bahamas
Dominica Grenada
Guyana Jamaica
St. Lucia St Kitts &
Nevis
St. Vincent & Suriname
the Grenadines Trinidad
&
Tobago

3. MISSION
CANROP is the institution that promotes and supports institutional
modernization, training and educational cultural exchanges, and
specialised information and communication to contribute to the
coordinated, competitive and sustainable development of
agriculture to contribute in the improvement of rural livelihoods and
SME development in Caribbean Region.
Speaks to pillars # 1 and #4 of Decent Work Agenda (DWA).

4. VISION
 To be the unified, viable and sustainable rural women
transparent institution based on its trained and informed
members supporting developmental needs of the members in
achieving the sustainable development of agriculture,
promoting food security, reducing poverty and improving the
living conditions in the rural territories of the Caribbean.

5. NETWORK OBJECTIVES
 To provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas that
rural women producers address the concerns affecting the
development of their business.
 To create a brand that identifies the goods and services of
members with quality products produced by rural women.
 To pool resources for the marketing of products produced by
members of the organization.

6. NETWORK OBJECTIVES CONT’ D
 To create training programs to maintain and develop the
interpersonal, technical, financial and business skills of its members.
 To support and promote projects which support rural women
producers in the development of their communities.
 To access external funding from National and multi-national donor
agencies to support national work programs.
 To provide a forum that facilitates the discussion of gender
equality and equity within the country.

7. REGISTRATION
Through the initiative of the Inter American Institute for Cooperation
on Agriculture (IICA) funding was sourced from UN Women to pay for
legal services to establish the new bylaws through consultation at
Cluster, Chapter and Regional participation for the governance of
the organisation.
At present only Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St.
Vincent and the Grenadines have legally registered under the new
bylaws. Lack of funding for legal services was highlighted by other
chapters as a major factor for none conformity.

8. REGISTRATION CONT’D
Measures are already in motion to use the registered National
Chapters to pursue the legal registration of CANROP while efforts will
continue to get the other Chapters legally incorporated.
Registration certificate and audited accounts are two basic
requirements necessary for sourcing funds and to access regional
and international markets for increase economic empowerment.
This speaks to Decent Work Agenda (DWA) pillar #1 opportunities for
investment.

9. FUNDING/ WORKSHOPS
Through the technical intervention of IICA funding was sourced in
2014 from the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural
Cooperation (CTA). Funds were used to conduct national and
regional workshops on Knowledge Management and
Communication.

10. WORKSHOP
 The workshops created awareness of our past and current status
and guidance for the way forward.
 The communication workshops exposed members to impactful
ways of telling their business stories as a marketing tool. The story
telling tool was used to create an impactful presentation of
CANROP’s story at the Alliance Meeting in Suriname in October
2014.
 A CANROP Facebook page was created to foster communication
among members regionally.

11. WORKSHOP CONT’D
 The workshops created awareness of our past and current status
and guidance for the way forward.
 The communication workshops exposed members to impactful
ways of telling their business stories as a marketing tool. The story
telling tool was used to create an impactful presentation of
CANROP’s story at the Alliance Meeting in Suriname in October
2014.
 A CANROP Facebook page was created to foster communication
among members regionally.

12. WE CANROP
CANROP is in the process of consolidating so all available support to
foster growth, development and economic empowerment of female
farmers is always welcome. Critical for our growth is the need for the
position of a secretariat to do operational management tasks,
internal and external communications and be a hub to keep all in
touch and in sync.

13. MOST CRITICAL DEMANDS FOR
WOMEN FARMERS IN RELATION
TO PROGRAMME ON
AGRICULTURE
ON ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY ON SOCIAL
SAFETY NETWORK

14. CRITICAL AGRICULTURE
DEMANDS
 Consultations with female farmers/ organizations and have
representation at every level of decision making.
 Hosting of capacity building workshops to better equip female
farmers to cope with changes brought about by climate change
to still maintain viable businesses.
 Timely access to inputs especially with the emergence of new
pest and more virulent diseases resulting from climate
change.

15. CRITICAL AGRICULTURE
DEMANDS CONT’D
 Increase access/ownership to more land and monies thereby
eliminating the bureaucracy and barriers that still exists.
 Expansion of existing integration and free trade agreements which
would lead to increase trade flows.
 Training to acquire knowledge, techniques and skills required to
effectively and efficiently harvest rain water and trap underground
water.

16. CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY DEMANDS
 Promotion of solar and wind operator dryers for food processing in
an effort to promote eco friendly environment where applicable.
 Revisit conditions under which female farmers work in a male
dominated environment.
 In an effort to reduce the large percentage of the fruits and
vegetables that go to waste annually the need arises for the
construction of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
Standard Processing Plants with large storage.
Pillar # 1 job creation

17. CRITICAL DEMANDS RELATED
TO SOCIAL SAFETY NETS
 Research and consultation to identify best practices that will
impact women in agriculture who are aging.
 Continued advocacy for equal rights and pay for the same
services provided by men for females.
 Revisit conditions under which female farmers work in a male
dominated environment.

18. CRITICAL DEMANDS RELATED
TO SOCIAL SAFETY NETS CONT’ D
 More farmers/processors to contribute to the National Insurance
Scheme especially for health and pension benefits.
 Construction of Community Farmer’s Day Care Centers for the
safety and protection of their children.

19. Major Challenges Experienced By
Networks Of Women Farmers In
Relation To Their Ability To
Effectively Advocate For Policies and
Reforms At National And Regional
Levels

20. MAJOR CHALLENGES
 Limited exposure / knowledge to rights and responsibilities and
channels to use to pursue the same.
 Lack of political will to address needs at community, national and
regional levels.
 No union representation.
 Low representation of females in governments.

21. SUPPORT NEEDED TO
OVERCOME POLICY CHALLENGES
 Greater support from the National Civil Society Organisation and
political representatives in pursuing and monitoring policies relating
to female farmers.
 Union representation for women in agriculture/ women farmers so
as to effectively demonstrate the Decent Work Agenda.
 In the absence of union representation greater support is needed
from UN Women Organizations to continue to advocate on behalf
of the rights of female farmers.