Farmers from across Saint Lucia benefited from yet another quarterly inputs sales activity hosted by the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Union Agricultural Station. The recent quarterly inputs sales featured peat moss, ground cover, mist blowers, plastic crates, and trellis netting.

Hosted every three months, the activities offer a range of inputs for sale at reduced prices, making it more affordable for them to purchase in larger quantities.

These quarterly sales are part of the “Enhancement of the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector Project (Second Term)”, also referred to as the “Seven Crops Project”. The Project is a response to Saint Lucia’s high food import bill, and focuses on seven major crops that are heavily imported: bell pepper, lettuce, cantaloupe, cabbage, tomato, pineapple, and watermelon. Under the Project, interventions are being made to reduce importation of these crops by at least 25% by 2030, by increasing local production.

Mr. Cantius Samuel, a famer who cultivates watermelons at his farms in Dennery and Roseau Valley, was among those who benefited from the activity.

“I want to thank the Taiwanese,” he said. “With the prices of inputs on the market being sky high, by them reducing the price of inputs helps us farmers a lot. With the technical help I’ve been receiving, and also the half price on the inputs sales, I must say that they are doing well, and I thank them.”

Samuel added: “Today, I got a couple bags of peat moss which normally sells at $80.00 a bag, but I got them for $35.00 each. We benefit from the Taiwanese a lot as farmers, which, in turn helps us with our production.”

As a leading watermelon producer in Saint Lucia, Samuel recalled how his fortunes changed for the better following the intervention of the Seven Crops Project at his farms.

“Before, I would harvest just about 7 vans of watermelons on my 70 feet by 90 feet plot,” he explained. “But with the technical assistance from the Taiwanese, I’m now harvesting about 21 vans of watermelons on that very same plot.”

Mr. Daniel Lee, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, said the hope is that through initiatives like these, farmers can get the support they need.

“We’re honoured and grateful for the support of the Government of Saint Lucia, especially through the Ministry of Agriculture,” Lee said. “So let’s support the farmers in their domestic production.”

Lee also explained how the quarterly activities not only support farmers, but also the overall local economy.

“There are inputs from Taiwan – for example, the ground cover and peat moss – and our support for the local economy with the Project purchasing locally-made crates and other inputs,” Lee noted. “The benefits for farmers, for sure, are more competitive and affordable prices, and the local economy. We want to grow together – not only farmers and production – but the local economy as well.”

Lee also handed over some of the inputs on behalf of the Taiwan Technical Mission to Ms. Adline Eudovic, Project Coordinator of the Seven Crops Project, which will be handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture. Eudovic said the quarterly inputs sales are highly looked forward to activities for farmers who depend on very heavily on the reduced prices.

“It helps them to lower the costs of production, thereby keeping the overall cost of the food down,” she said. “We have increased our inputs sales to include weed eaters, mist blowers, water pumps, and other equipment that the farmers request. So we’re trying our best to under the project to assist farmers with production. As we introduce new technologies to the farmers, we’re bringing the respective tools needed for these implementations on their farms.”

Eudovic thanked the Government and people of Taiwan for their continued assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture through the Seven Crops Project, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture continue looks forward to a long working relationship with them.