... Investing in Agriculture ‘Terrance’ is a young "Vincy" agripreneur. He comes from a farming background, producing fruits and vegetables for sale to hotels and restaurants. He has ten years of experience in installing greenhouses for other farmers. He has a vision of becoming a successfully entrepreneur; his plan- invest in his own greenhouses. Using his acquired expertise in greenhouses, ‘Terrance’ started off in 1997 with three greenhouses specializing in three crops- sweet peppers, lettuce and tomatoes. The market was growing and he maximized the enabling environment; government policy promoted diversification and modernization; and financial, technical and business support that matched his growing needs. As his business grew, expansion was inevitable. Terrance needed additional financing to purchase more greenhouses. While the financing was being negotiated, he did not wait! He used his own resources and invested in used greenhouses, increasing from three to eleven in about seven years. His initial investment of his ‘time, treasure and talents’ paid off! His carefully planned efforts for success included thorough preparation by educating himself in greenhouse technology; taking risks through his initial investments in greenhouses; matching his technical know-how with business sense through systemized farm management practices and outsourcing services where appropriate, such as, land preparation services. Now, in 2008, he has 28 greenhouses with an additional range of crops, which now includes red and yellow sweet peppers, cucumbers and cabbage that made him even more sought after in the market place. But, he did not do this all alone! He was able to secure one essential partner – a micro-financing institution whose mission is to support the growth of a vibrant micro and small enterprises by providing clientdriven services. Terrance and his micro-financier took the ultimate plunge– they invested in agriculture and by extension St. Vincent and the Grenadines together. Some lessons? Investing in agriculture does not depend on million-dollar externally financed government projects. Investing in agriculture requires preparation and smart partnerships between producer/investor and a financier that offers more than just money. Investing in agriculture can start at any level, and one business at a time can make a big difference! promoting a wider appreciation of information and knowledge management for agricultural development generally and specifically, support for the IICA/CTA MEAgrISys project #6, 2008 Research and Preparation: Naitram Ramnanan CaRAPN Member Concept, Artwork, Editing: Diana Francis Trade Policies and Negotiations Programme IICA Caribbean Region Financed by: Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA –ACP) The Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the CTA and IICA
