Thirty-six households in the Kalinago Territory are taking important steps toward greater food security, self-reliance, and climate resilience after receiving agricultural inputs and equipment through the backyard gardening component of the Strengthening Community Resilience in the Kalinago Territory (SCR-K) Project.
The SCR-K Project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the Government of India and in partnership with the Government of Dominica, the Kalinago Council and community stakeholders. The delivery of supplies and training was coordinated by IsraAID Dominica, as part of its collaboration with UNDP to implement targeted community-level activities under the SCR-K project.
At a handover ceremony held at the Salybia Primary School on Thursday, August 13, participating families received a range of vegetable seedlings, fruit trees, farming tools, tarpaulins, and water storage equipment to help establish and expand backyard gardens. Additional supplies will be delivered in the coming weeks. For many recipients, the support represents an opportunity to increase access to fresh, nutritious food, reduce household expenses, and build more sustainable livelihoods.
The distribution included vegetable seedlings such as tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers, sweet peppers, celery, and parsley, as well as fruit and perennial plants including avocado, soursop, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry, citrus, and apricot. By combining short-term crops with long-term fruit-bearing trees, households will be able to diversify food production and strengthen resilience to future shocks.
The handover followed a series of climate-smart agriculture training sessions, where participants gained practical knowledge in soil management, composting, sustainable farming techniques, and harvesting practices designed to help them adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.
For Kalinago farmer, Joan Gabriel, the initiative provides both encouragement and practical support to continue growing food and generating income at home.
“I want to thank UNDP, the Government of India and the Government of Dominica for this support. As Kalinago people, we have land, and we should make good use of what we are receiving today. We should not let these resources go to waste. I enjoy backyard gardening and already grow cucumbers, cabbages and seasoning peppers, and I keep poultry as well. I even have eggs for sale. I am proud of the help we are receiving today, and I encourage everyone to make the most of it,” she said.
UNDP Project Analyst, Sawana Fabien, underscored the relevance of the intervention. “Backyard gardening may seem like a simple intervention, but at the household level it can be transformative. For women-led and vulnerable households in particular, it means greater access to nutritious food, an opportunity to reduce household expenses and generate supplementary income, and a practical way of strengthening the well-being of their families. They are building the knowledge and skills to produce food more sustainably and to better withstand and recover from climate shocks.”
She added, “With the generous support of the Government of India, and in partnership with the Government of Dominica and the Kalinago Council, UNDP is translating these investments into practical action at the community level. We are pleased to have IsraAID supporting the delivery of this backyard gardening component, helping ensure that we reach households and contribute to stronger food security, livelihoods and resilience across the Kalinago Territory.”
By pairing practical resources with training and ongoing support, the SCR-K project aims to equip families with the skills and confidence needed to sustain food production over the long term. The inclusion of fruit trees and perennial crops will help ensure a continuous source of food while promoting sustainable land use practices and a more food-secure future for the Kalinago Territory.
