TABLE 3. Project Farmers (1984). Farmer Farmers Farming Total Cultivable Family Age School Years Acreage Under Participation Years Irrigation 1 60 6 35 1.45 None 2 53 0 40 3.35 Children 3 60 0 45 2.10 Children 4 37 5 17 1.90 Wife & Children 5 56 8 33 1.80 Wife & Children 6 53 8 25 1.90 Wife & Children 7 76 0 60 2.90 Children 8 65 2 40 2.70 Children 9 26 8 6 2.60 None 10 77 12 30 2.90 Children 11 27 8 7 2.30 None 12 83 0 60 3.00 None 13 42 6 20 1.00 Children tries, but many of them encountered in Antigua, Montserrat and St. Vincent belonged to Group I; those in St. Lucia and St. Kitts to Group II and those in Grenada to Groups II and III. Different methods of approach were obviously required in dealing with the development needs of the various groups. The people in Group III needed daily instructions in the simplest gardening techniques, on-the-job guidance and encouragement in the fundamentals of farming. They also needed assistance in stabilising land tenancy situations and developing new mechanisms for marketing new farm produce. The farmers in Group II were generally older folks, well rooted in the traditional methods of producing ground provisions. Since most of these subsistence farmers were located on sloping land susceptible to erosion, a major requirement was to improve the production of these traditional crops while, at the same time, upgrading the level of soil conservation methods. It was also evi- dent that new, more profitable crops could be introduced on farms with suitable soil and water conditions. This was particular- ly apparent in St. Lucia's target area, where a nearby stream and available irrigation equipment made intensive vegetable produc- tion feasible. Here again, patient and persistent on-the-job in- structions in improved production techniques had to be provided on a daily basis, and new marketing channels developed. Perhaps the most readily approachable farmers were those in Group 1. Here were growers already familiar with the cash economy and in possession of some skills and techniques in vegetable as well as ground provision production. What was re- quired for this group was an upgrading of those skills, the strengthening of mechanisms for the supply of production in- puts, and the development of suitable marketing arrangements. Due to the variations in skill and experience among the three groups, the CARDATS program involved farmer training ac- VOL. XX-PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY tivities ranging from the most elementary farming practices through to some of the most sophisticated techniques used in commercial vegetable production. Most of this work was attemp- ted through direct on-farm demonstration and group training, and some work was feasible only with the limited members of farms. Obviously, one hoped for spin-off and spread effects from these efforts. There is evidence that such effects did in fact occur, leading to some improvements in farming methods among non- project farmers. Undoubtedly, however, more comprehensive training programs are being adopted in Phase II and larger numbers of farmers are being addressed. Credit The role of credit in small farmer production has been a matter of major importance throughout the life of the project. Indeed, the inclusion of a revolving credit fund in the project's structure has always been considered to be an essential feature of CAR- DATS and testifies to a belief in the fundamental nature of credit in small farmer development. Credit is required, of course, for the business of farming. It should be noted here that the granting of loans for agricultural purposes to small farmers in the sub-region is not a new phenomenon. Governments throughout the area have had schemes from time to time for lending small sums to farmers, especially those involved in land settlement programs. Results of these schemes have sometimes seemed to fall short of expectations. Poor appraisals of projects along with untimely disbursements and the lack of supervision contribute to poor repayments. Recogniz- ing that many of these schemes have been counter-productive, CARDATS Credit Program aimed at proper appraisals of pro- jects, rectifying the timeliness of loan disbursements and pro- viding the required short term funds. In addition, close supervi- 285