CERC
Contingent Emergency Response Component
(CERC) - Component 3
The objective of this component is to support St. Lucia’s capacity to rapidly respond in the event of a future eligible crisis or emergency defined as “an event that has caused, or is likely to imminently cause, a major adverse economic and/or social impact associated with natural or man-made crises or disasters.” Such events may include a disease outbreak such as the COVID-19 pandemic as well as natural disasters.
Following an eligible crisis or emergency, the recipient may request the World Bank to re-allocate project funds to support emergency response and reconstruction. This component would draw from the uncommitted loan resources under the Project from other project components to cover the emergency response.
Accordingly, UBEC was selected as the mechanism for the implementation of the Crisis Response Window, to address the emerging risk of food insecurity, thereby providing support to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development. These objectives were fast-tracked through the activation of the CERC for a one-year period, which comprised of the execution of just under 50 activities, within the farming, fishing, and livestock sectors. This component was concluded on March 31st 2025.
the Crisis Response Window, which was enacted to provide support to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development, to address the emerging risk of food insecurity. These objectives were fast-tracked through the activation of a Crisis Emergency Response Component (CERC) which has a one-year time frame ending March 31st 2025.
Farming
In an effort to provide immediate relief to farmers post COVID-19 and following the aftermath of various natural disasters such as Hurricane Bret in 2023 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024; several initiatives were carefully selected to administer direct assistance and critical support.
The farming sector received the following inputs:
The main big-ticket item was the Farm Labour Support Program which provided free manual labour to farmers island wide, thereby decreasing overhead costs and boosting overall productivity and crop yield. The program also served as a consistent form of employment for many farm workers over the course of six (6) months. In addition, farm workers benefitted from training in various farming techniques such as pruning, weeding, harvesting, etc.; in addition to receiving valuable life skills training on social security investment and money management.
One of the first inputs which was distributed to crop and banana farmers island wide was fertilizer. Effective use of fertilizer provides several benefits which include increased crop yield, improved soil fertility, increased plant resistance to disease and pests, and soil PH regulation. It was also recognized that the continuous use of fertilizer could lead to high soil acidity. In order to mitigate against this, agricultural lime was also distributed to farmers to assist with enhancing soil structure and nutrient performance.
Several inputs were provided to farmers to manage pests and diseases common to banana and crop plants. One of the most common of these diseases is the black and yellow sigatoka. Nematodes are well known parasites as well, and are typically common in tropical climate zones. The inputs distributed were as follows: herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, banana spray oil and bunch covers, and ground covers.
Several farms were visited throughout the island to conduct technical assessments to determine their viability for the installation of greenhouses. In a few instances, farmers were
required to conduct minor modifications to their farms to accommodate the installation. Greenhouses are known to promote a controlled environment for plant growth, protection from pests and weather ailments, and increase water conservation. In addition, thegreenhouses selected for erection contain a built-in irrigation system, making them even more proficient than traditional greenhouses. This feature is particularly beneficial to farmers located in areas with an irregular water supply.
Drainage was also a focus for the project, to ensure that flood-prone areas are not water- logged. Water-logging can cause compaction (soil particles are forced together), resulting in reduced water infiltration and oxygen availability, hindered root growth, and changes in soil chemistry. The de-silting of main drains was executed in several agricultural regions throughout the island.
Small farm drainage works were also executed in communities where there were lateral drains, (small drains that feed into larger community drains) to reduce flooding and water logging during the rainy season. Moreover, in Marquis, Castries, a community which is one of the most productive farming belts in region 2, re-habilitation of the main drainage network was undertaken. This task involved the construction of four (4) culverts to re-direct water flow, thereby reducing heavy flooding during the rainy season, which washed away crops in the past.
Additional farming equipment was procured to ensure that farms are well maintained and therefore produce high yields. This equipment took the form of a tractor, chainsaws, weed-eaters, plows, sprayers, etc. Equipment was also purchased for farm workers to facilitate their tasks on the respective farms assigned. These included cutlasses, boots, tree pruners, weed-eaters and cutlass files.
To support increased production of bananas, in-vitro banana plants were procured. It is expected that these plants would be distributed to farmers on a needs-basis. Also, in an effort to support increased production, potting bags were also procured for the planting of tree crops such as bananas, mangoes, oranges, and avocados. Furthermore, to boost production levels, seeds were for the following crops were also provided to farmers: watermelons, cantaloupes, papayas, lettuce, tomatoes, and cabbages.
Livestock
Within the livestock sector, the focus was directed at boosting food security and assisting farmers with their continued post COVID-19 recovery, while also strengthening the overallsustainability of livestock production.
The livestock sector received the following inputs:
A big-ticket item under the livestock component was the procurement of breeding animals in the form of pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats. These animals were carefully selected from various animal ranches in the United States, by a team of livestock officers from the Veterinary & Livestock Division of the Ministry of Agriculture. It is expected that this investment into the sector, will yield a more diverse genetic pool of such animals, resulting in increased supply of meat and meat products.
In order to accommodate this significant addition to the livestock sector, several upgrades and enhancements were undertaken at the Volet Agricultural Facility. These included the establishment of pasture and a forage bank for animal grazing, installation of a chain link fence to enclose the pasture area, and re-partitioning of the cattle holder, swine maternity, ruminant pens, and pig-fatting units.
Another significant investment of the facility is the construction of an Artificial Insemination Lab and the procurement of related tools and equipment. This initiative was executed to facilitate the process of preparing and optimizing animal sperm samples for use in artificial insemination procedures, thereby increasing the chances for successful fertilization. It is envisaged that these efforts would result in an increase in the animal bloodlines within the livestock sector, particularly when combined with the new breeding animals which were recently acquired.
The distribution of water tanks was one of the earlier activities executed under the CERC, which was well received by livestock and crop farmers alike. These water tanks each contain a capacity of 1000 gallons. This undertaking was initiated to assist with the sustained irrigation of crops and hydration of animals, in areas which are prone to an inconsistent or low water supply, particularly in the dry season.
The Veterinary & Livestock Division of the Ministry of Agriculture received veterinary lab equipment in the form of general lab and disease surveillance consumables. The items included test kits, reagents, and personal protective equipment (PPE); which are essential for effective disease surveillance systems. These consumables enable timely detection of outbreaks, monitoring of disease trends, and evaluation of interventions.
A generator was also procured for use at the National Diagnostic Agricultural Facility which undertakes lab testing activities involving the sampling of plants and related chemicals. The sensitive nature of these activities requires continuous refrigeration which can be better facilitated through the use of a generator. An equipment shed was also constructed to safely house valuable equipment, on behalf of the Agricultural Engineering Services Department.
Fishing
While the inputs provided and activities executed within the fishing sector were fewer in quantity to that of farming and livestock; the impact was just as significant. A strong emphasis was placed on safety at sea, through the provision of related safety training and inputs. In some instances, the activities initiated through the CERC will be further bolstered through the general UBEC components of the project.
The fishing sector received the following inputs:
Several fisherfolk throughout the island completed a Boat Masters Training Program, which was designed to educate and train them on various methodologies and procedures for increased safety at sea. The training was be administered by the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) Marine Unit. The program covered topics including but not limited to, Nautical Terminology, Radion Voice procedure, First Aid, and Rules of the Road. Upon completion of the program, fishers received a bespoke life jacket and are now equipped to apply to attain the Boat Master License, which would signify that they have undertaken all the necessary training to successfully
operate a vessel.
Another initiative aimed at increasing safety at sea for fisherfolk, was the distribution of safety grab bags to licensed boat owners and captains throughout the island. The grab bags contain radio equipment, marine radio, medical kit, distress light, and signaling tools, to name a few. Moreover, fisherfolk are well positioned to efficiently use these items as they have received the relevant training through the Boat Masters Training Program. Fishing, while recognized as a lucrative livelihood, is also known to be a dangerous one, due to the unforgiving nature of the seas. As such, increasing the safety of fisherfolk is a major priority of UBEC.
Ice-making machines and coolers were distributed to the Fishing Cooperatives of every fishing district on the island. The undertaking was aimed at increasing the overall freshness of fish supply, thereby ensuring that fish is stored properly, safe for consumption, and its nutrient value is preserved. Moreover, Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on proper fish handling and storage practices, will be developed and broadcasted to major media networks, to increase public awareness and education on this pertinent topic. This will be executed in an effort to dispel the existing public opinion that fish on ice is not ideal for consumption.
