RDC boosting rural businesses

 

THE Rural Development Commission (RDC) is committed to facilitating the development of rural businesses in this country.
 
So says Minister responsible for the RDC, Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development, Denis Kellman. In fact, speaking yesterday morning during a service at the St. Lucy Parish Church to mark the RDC’s 20th Anniversary, Kellman noted that since coming into existence the Commission has disbursed in excess of $11 million in loans to assist as many as 1 400 persons to establish vibrant rural enterprises.
 
With that in mind, the Minister stressed the importance of the loan recipients paying back the money they have borrowed, so that others can be helped as he explained that the loans were disbursed from the three loan facilities which the Commission has responsibility for managing – the Rural Enterprise Fund, the Livestock Development Fund and the Fruit Orchard Development Fund. Those three funds, he said, were established with the assistance of the European Development Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. He made the point while noting that young people are starting to apply for loans from the Commission and are showing interest, particularly as it relates to farming activities. He said that this is commendable and speaks very well to the future of the island’s food security.
 
“The Commission recognises the importance of having a vibrant rural business community in a world where with the advent of globalization, countries will have to be innovative in providing solutions to their various economic challenges. We at RDC will be looking to expand the farming offering and also to expand the fishing industry, along with community tourism. Small holdings must be given to these youngsters, because it is from production that services are created,” he explained.  
 
Minister Kellman’s comments came as he revealed that the loan portfolio caters to persons in diverse areas of entrepreneurship. Evidence of this, he said, was seen in the “fresh and innovative ideas” which their loan clients had on show at Agrofest some months back.
 
“This year alone we saw the widespread use of indigenous raw materials in the making of a number of aromatherapy products, among them the use of the Pride of Barbados flower to create creams, scrubs and body sprays. We are grateful that rural entrepreneurs are using these natural local ingredients in manufacturing their products and we give God thanks for the minds and hands which have turned them into attractive and effective products,” the minister added. (JRT)

Barbados Advocate

Mailing Address:
Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc
Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados

Phone: (246) 467-2000
Fax: (246) 434-2020 / (246) 434-1000