C.S.Inc. and Partners Aquaculture Sea-Moss Farming Project in Grenada Reaps Multiple Benefits

St. George’s Grenada

Saturday, August 03, 2019

For the period May-July 31, 2019, several regional partners collaborated with the Labaye Alternative Livelihoods Organisation Inc. (LABALO) in Grenada, to be trained in the technical aspects of Sea Moss farming, a part of what is scientifically known as aquaculture.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) ‘Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic plants for food, this specialized farming implies some form of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated.” Adapted

Dr. Ashley John, Executive Director of Constructive Solutions Inc. spent the past three months in Grenada learning every aspect of sea moss farming, from the design, setting up of a plot, caring, harvesting, drying, and sale of sea moss.

Mr. Willan Andrews the Chief Executive Director of Labaye Alternative Livelihoods Organisation Inc. a Sea Moss technical expert, originally trained by Ashton Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, Union Island,  a southerly Grenadines island,  shared his wealth of knowledge and skills to Dr. John along with his team members through the various steps.

Benefits: 

During this experimental phase, all partners involved, which include “(Labalo) the Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (COESL), Dynamic Youth of Grenada, Aine Brathwaite (Canari), Gen-Caribbean and C.S.Inc. had an opportunity to see “complementary capitalism, a best practice derived from Dr. Marcia Brandon, Chief Entrepreneurial Expert (COES)  at work successfully.

Mr. Andrews says that he continues to fulfill the mandate and mission of “Labalo” “To develop an economically viable Aquaculture industry for the organic production and marketing of sea moss as an environmentally friendly, sustainable alternative livelihood for the citizens in the community, which would help to alleviate poverty and improve their social, environmental and economic status.” and it was, therefore, a very productive exercise.

He also commended the practical and technical efforts of Dr. John who shared his Sustainable Development Project Management expertise and MSME Consultations, which continues to assist them significantly in scaling up their operations.

Dr. John thanks all partners in the process and reported that they have been able to learn the steps of setting up a sea moss plot, farming, harvesting, drying and sale of Sea Moss.

He, however, said that “farming sea moss is very the labor-intensive work, and the majority of it is manual and use of solar energy, necessary to reap a good quality product at the end of the 12-week growing period.

We were fortunate within our first of two plots to harvest 23 bags (860lbs) of wet sea moss, which when dried came to (43 lbs).

We had several risk factors we had to overcome including strong water currents, which would break some of the sea moss from the plots,  sargassum seaweed, invading the plots, petty theft and other environmental challenges as it relates to using of the designated “Labalo” space, granted by the Fisheries Division in Grenada, for the Aquaculture project. 

We had been well taught how to put the contingency plans in place to get past these obstacles and they proved very effective, however, we are continuously sharing our technical expertise to upscale this lucrative green/blue enterprise initiative, which certainly helps citizens to put in place climate change adaptation strategies, while earning an income.” 

Benefits of Sea Moss (A Healthy Traditional Whole Food)

Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, red algae or Chondrus crispus, offers us a variety of health benefits. Sea moss has been used for generations among seaside cultures as complete body nourishing tonics.

Sea moss helps relieve and prevent symptoms of colds and flu, It contains compounds which act as a natural antimicrobial and antiviral agents, helping to boost immunity and get rid of any infections. Hello, natural cough syrup!

Cold, flu-like, and other coughy-mucousy conditions the moss helps with include:

Sore throat

Bronchitis

Pneumonia

Tuberculosis

Chest coughs

In addition, Sea moss is rich in amino acids, Vitamin C and antioxidants, all of which help to boost the immune system, support immune health and prevent cellular damage and destruction. It also has anti-tumor properties.

Disclaimer:

This information provided is not being done so as a way of providing any medical advice.  Some people may have personal and individualized sensitivities to sea moss, just like we can all have unique responses to any number of foods.

If you are in doubt, always do your own thorough research, read the information and make your own decisions. That will always be your best measure

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5387034/

We look forward to sharing more of the success of this Aquaculture project in Grenada, should you require any information feel free to contact us at Email: info@sustainablepeople.org, Tel\Whatsapp +7844920908.

@Dr. Ashley C. John Amb.

Constructive Solutions Inc. 2019