As women heads of household struggle to feed their families in the face of food insecurity and the novel coronavirus pandemic, Jamaican non-governmental organization (NGO) INMED Caribbean has embarked on an innovative solution that is spreading across the country.
Since 2011, INMED Caribbean has been helping small-scale farmers increase their production capacity and adapt to climate change realities by implementing an intensive form of farming called aquaponics.
“INMED Aquaponics® is a particularly powerful solution for providing women with a means to be self-reliant and become successful business owners,” said INMED Caribbean project manager in Jamaica Earl Ashley. “As a result of the free aquaponics training initiative, more women can strengthen income generation for their families.”
As of June 2021 – 62 women have completed aquaponics training with INMED Caribbean and 153 women are currently registered.
Allicia Lewis, a 70-year-old retired cook of John's Hall, Clarendon, suggested, “Exposure to aquaponics through INMED has been a blessing for me. At my age, it is wonderful to find a means of earning that is not taxing on my body. I don't have to bend as much and I can grow quite a lot in the 1,600 square-foot space. I am not fortunate enough to have a pension but through aquaponics, I can still survive”.
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