Wageningen University starts SABAGRO-project

Margriet Goris of Wageningen University’s Science Shop arrived in Saba on Monday to work on an agricultural project aimed at making the island less dependent on imported food. On Tuesday, Goris met with Franklin “Mopsy” Every, one of the stakeholders involved in the Sabagro-project, initiated by Foundation Social Workplace Saba. This was the first in a series of interviews with stakeholders on a draft-plan concerning the local production of vegetables, which will also include Commissioners Bruce Zagers and Chris Johnson, Island Council members, supermarket owners, the Oraganoponics Garden on The Level, hotel and restaurant managers, the Agricultural Centre and farmers.

The Science Shop contributes approximately 35,000 euros to the project, which is slated to start with a research phase in February 2013. The rest of the cost is to be provided by the island government. A final report is expected to be finalized by June 2013. Recommendations in the report could be implemented and financed from the 10 million euros that are to be made available to the Caribbean Netherlands for nature and greenery in 2013.

Source: “The Daily Herald” 2012-09-13