Vetiver farm project reaping great success for inmates, their diets and farm lands

The local non-government organisation Hand2Earth has partnered with the prisons in the implementation of a farmland restoration project led by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Conservation Fund. And three months after its implementation, the NGO said the 1.5 acre farm is already producing vegetables for inmates at the correctional facility.

A release from the implementing agency, Hands2Earth, said that the extension of their north leeward vetiver project involves the setting up of sustainable contour farming with the Belle Isle Correctional Facility Prison Officer Kevly Gould of Spring Village and 14 prisoners from the Correctional Facility were trained in Vetiver Systems Technology over a three-week period in August, 2022. Prison authorities then identified an area to set up a vetiver nursery and farm in the prison grounds where 300 vetiver plants were put in on several contours.
Crops were then planted in between, enabling the sloping lands to be cultivated sustainably by preventing soil loss.

Prison Officer Gould shows a visitor the crops in the vetiver project

Apart from the training, the SVG Conservation Fund/Hand2Earth project donated hand tools, water boots, seeds and vetiver plants for the project which has expanded to become an exemplary vetiver systems farm site, the release states.

It is a prime demonstration site for soil regeneration and eco-agricultural practices that directly link to St. Vincent’s agri-heritage, it adds.

The Hand2Earth’s project manager, Vonnie Roudette, said this project has enabled the prisoners to put their training into practice and experience the benefits of farming with vetiver to reintroduce the practice of terrace farming to the area, and also to practice the system when they leave the prison.

Just three months after its inception, the vetiver farm was supplying the prison kitchen with a wide range of vegetables- tomatoes, okras, egg plant, lettuce, watermelon, sweet peppers and carrots.

A tomato plant

Officer Gould said he is proud of the dedication the prisoners have shown to the project.

“My team [of prisoners] has motivated me to expand the project from its initial area to what we have now. The enthusiasm they have shown shows the benefits of learning new skills that will assist them when they come out of prison. We are really reaping the benefits in healthy produce for the prison kitchen.”

The project uses the neem plant and other natural pesticides on the farm. The insect repellent properties of vetiver grass also provide for healthier crops. Despite the dry season having set in, the farm area is green and well-irrigated with adequate ground water retained by the vetiver root system, the release further states.

The prison vetiver farm has received three visits from farmers from Petit Bordel, Troumaca, Rose Bank, Coull’s Hill to exchange experiences of working with vetiver systems on their farms. This is part of Hand2Earth’s community education activities of scheduled guided tours of project vetiver farm sites.

Acting Superintendent of Prisons Dwain Bailey said “The vetiver farm project is one of our rehabilitation programmes that has really benefited the inmates, producing vegetables that have gone directly to their diet. The visits by local community groups to the prison farm where prisoners interact with community members …has benefited them tremendously.” He added, “this has helped them feel part of something bigger than themselves and engineer a spirit of self-worth.”

Produce from Belle Isle Vetiver Farm

“We are delighted to expand this community project to partner with His Majesty’s Prisons in reclaiming the practical knowledge that enabled farmers to supply the region with agricultural produce in former times through productive contour farming,” Roudette said.

“ This natural way of stabilising farmland and enriching the soil is timely as we work together to build healthy food systems in SVG.”