Page 11 - Agric Info Newsletter 02 2017

The Vetiver grass project at Fancy constitutes three According to the Agricultural Act No. 23 of
phases. It began with phase one focusing on the dan- 1951, “owners and occupiers of agricultural
gerous slopes that was frequently slipping and dis- lands should manage their land in such manner
rupting traffic and road infrastructure. The dry, loose, as to prevent erosion and ruination of the soil
volcanic soil found in the area is due to the close and by cultivating all cultivatable land under
proximity of the La Soufriere Volcano. their control. Some of the steps that should be
taken are:
Hence, sea weed was used as mulch to help retain
moisture to the grass, especially during dry periods.  To terrace sloping land under cultivation;
The sea weed can be used as mulch for any agricul-  To prevent or check the formation of gullies;
tural crop but must be washed of the salt to prevent
burning of the crop. It has all the nutrients the vetiver  To prevent surface water from causing ero-
grass requires. sion on adjoining land;

 To protect water courses or public roads;

 To preserve forest and vegetation on ridges
and steep slopes;
 To control, or where necessary prevent, the
grazing of animals on steep slopes; and

 To cultivate all cultivatable land under his
control in accordance with the accepted
standards of good husbandry.

The owner or occupier of such land shall at all
Grass barrier times maintain the said anti-erosion works in a
fit and proper condition to the satisfaction of the
rd
A trip back to the site two years later on January 23 , Chief Agricultural Officer or by any person au-
2017, has shown tremendous growth and very little thorized by the Chief Agricultural Officer. Any
slippage. Phase two of the project will use the gabion person who fails to maintain the said anti-
basket system, along with the vetiver grass. The bas- erosion works is guilty of an offence and liable
kets will be constructed with wires and packed with to a fine of one thousand dollars and to impris-
stones, to create a fence-like structure. onment of three months”.

The final phase will continue with remedial work on The Forestry Department continues to collabo-
the coastal side. All things being equal, work should rate with the Soil Conservation Unit and Fair
be completed by 2020.Mr. Bascombe expressed his Trade farmers in promoting the vetiver grass as
satisfaction with the project’s success and stated that a land stabilization product across St. Vincent
it was better than anticipated. and the Grenadines. Farmers, households and
He highlighted “the vetiver grass has been phenome- community groups have all benefitted from this
nal in controlling the material that has been coming campaign. Two germplasm in Rabacca and Fen-
down”. When asked about some of the challenges ton and a holding ground at Belle Isle will sup-
faced with the project, he said the major challenge is ply materials for persons who have interest in
persons within the surrounding community burning using the vetiver grass to combat soil erosion.
and cutting the grass. The Forestry Department can be contacted at
He also stated that the project was beneficial to them telephone number 457-8594 or the Ministry of
and asked that persons desist from doing such actions. Agriculture at 456-1410.