WINFA – The Voice of Farmers

WINFA is a non-governmental organization that was formed in 1982.  The organization represents, protects and promotes the interest of thousands of farmers in the Windward Islands in a continued struggle to improve the farm, family, community and national conditions.  In the current new global economic order this involves the challenge of sustaining income and livelihood of banana farmers and the banana industry in general resulting from WTO ruling and other trade regimes that threaten the socio-economic stability of the region.

The overall mission of WINFA is to “build a financially independent democratic organization that champions the cause of farmers and rural communities in the Caribbean through the provision of programmes which address issues such as food security, gender equity, sustainable development, and sector linkages.

The major objectives of WINFA include:

• Support organizational and programme initiatives of farmers/farmers organizations in the region.

• Seeking alternative livelihood for farmers, led by the Fairtrade initiative and agro-processing effort.

• Building farmers awareness on global and agricultural related issues/developments (implication of WTO, LOME, FTAA Food Sovereignty/Security etc.).

• Development advocacy, lobbying, capacity building of farmers/organizations that speak to issues and concerns of the farming community.

• Representation of farmers at policy-making levels (CARICOM, OECS Standing Committee Ministers of Agriculture, national bodies etc.) 

• Mainstreaming of gender issues in all of WINFA programmes.

Major programmes areas of the organization include:

• Advocacy and lobbying

• Education and training

• Diversification

• Fairtrade

• Farmers Exchanges

• Gender and Youth

To facilitate these initiatives WINFA brings the following expertise to bear on the process:

• Strong, deep and credible links with farmers and farmers’ organizations in the region.

• Focussed, informed and dynamic advocacy, negotiating and lobbying skills at the national regional and international levels; particularly on the question of bananas.

• Strong regional and national leadership network.

• Very good network of contacts with regional civil Society organization and other donor/partner agencies.

• A strong resource/information based on agricultural related and trade issues.

Board Members of WINFA:

Mrs. Marcella Harris – Chairman  (Dominica)
Mr. Romain Bellay – Vice chair     (Martinique)
Mr. Philemon Allen                         (St. Vincent)              
Mr. Winston Henry                         (St. Lucia)
Mr. Norris Neckels                          (Grenada)