Inspired, Encouraged, But Just a Bit Heavy-Hearted
Farmer Annmarie
There is both excitement and heaviness in the work happening right now within the Jalawelo Farmers Network.
Over the past several months, we have been walking alongside about 20 farmers in the Spring Village community. This group includes 10 farmers participating in a special pilot initiative built around collaboration, accountability, and shared growth. Together, we are not simply distributing aid, we are intentionally building systems, relationships, and sustainable pathways forward.
And despite the many setbacks facing small farmers, we are already beginning to see signs of encouragement and impact.
Farmers have reported improved crop yields through access to fertilizers and other farming support. Some have shared that simply knowing someone is walking alongside them has renewed their sense of hope and motivation. Others are benefiting from learning together within the pilot group — sharing experiences, ideas, challenges, and solutions as they work side by side toward a more sustainable future.
For several farmers, having land finally ploughed and prepared has allowed them to move forward after months of feeling stuck and unable to plant. There is growing hope that with continued support, collaboration, and practical solutions, progress is possible.
Through this initiative, we have already supported farmers with:
Shared farming tools through our developing toolshare initiative (accessible via a mobile app)
Land ploughing, harrowing, and furrowing
Fertilizers and pesticides
Drip irrigation support
Start-up resources to begin seedling production in the CRAFSIS* greenhouse
*Climate Resilience and Adaptation for Food Security in Island States
The greenhouse seedlings initiative, being undertaken in partnership with the Spring Village Development Foundation and the farmers, is especially important because there is currently a shortage of quality seedlings available to these small farmers. Our goal is not only to support our immediate farmer group, but also to help meet practical agricultural needs across the broader farming community in the area.
Some of our next steps will include technology training, business support, and additional development opportunities designed to help farmers strengthen both their livelihoods and long-term sustainability.
We are working assiduously to provide real help.
At the same time, we are beginning to move ahead with support for several female chicken farmers who are essentially starting again from ground zero. In some cases, it has become painfully clear that their chicken coops were already in poor condition before Hurricane Melissa, and now conditions are even worse. In one heartbreaking situation, sheets are currently being used instead of tarpaulins to provide cover and protection for the chickens. This too is something we are working to address.
And, still the challenges continue.
One farmer recently had an entire field of corn stolen just as it was ready for harvest.
Another farmer has been waiting for weeks to have land ploughed due to widespread delays in tractor and ploughing services across the community. These bottlenecks have slowed land preparation for the entire group, despite funding already being fully available to cover the costs.
One farmer’s cassava field has become flooded because neighboring water pipes are leaking uncontrollably and the crop destroyed at a time when the farmer was just beginning to make progress to move ahead.
And honestly, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Our small farmers need support. Some were still trying to recover from Hurricane Beryl when Hurricane Melissa hit.
One thing we are learning deeply through this work is this: when you truly enter people’s realities — when you stay, listen, walk alongside them, and do not disappear after offering a little help — the truth begins to emerge. The struggles are often far greater, more layered, and more persistent than what can be seen from a distance.
But even in the heaviness, we are inspired and excited as we continue to witness resilience, perseverance, dignity, and courage.
We are committed to pressing forward, working alongside farmers to isolate practical solutions, strengthen support systems, encourage collaboration, and build pathways toward greater sustainability and stability for farming families and their communities.
Stay tuned over the coming months as Jalawelo celebrates our warriors — our small farmers — by sharing real stories from the ground and highlighting the work being done together in this ongoing fight for sustainability, recovery, and survival.
Because these stories matter.
And because the people living them matter even more.
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