01+Project+Proposal+Project+Grow+Box


 * ABSTRACT **

It is of vital importance that Trinidad and Tobago takes steps to reduce the food import bill and to ensure the education of the public to non-traditional cultivation and farming methods. This project seeks to introduce hydroponic farming using water and minerals but no soil. Project Grow Box is targeted at a community where land for farming is non-existent. The project will be carried out within a period of 3 months and will cost$TT 61, 000.0. It is assumed that financial support will be given by the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs and that the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs will also give approval. It also seeks to train 100 households in hydroponics, and reduce the food bill of the participants by 2%. The project managers anticipate the first harvest 39 days after sowing seed.

1.0. GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION
** Project Title: **‘Project Grow Box’ **Project ID:** Grow Box ** Sponsor: **UWI PRGM6002 **Sponsor Representative:** R. Ellis Ministry of Food Production, Land & Marine Affairs. ** Customer: **Community X **Time Period:** 3 months ** Prepared by: **Team BCDMNR **Version:** 1

2.0. PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS

 * **Name ** || **Title ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Contact Information ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Team BCDMNR || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Project Management students || <span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">ourteam6002@gmail.com ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">R. Ellis || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Lecturer (PRGM 6002) || <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">ruelle.ellis@gmail.com ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Faculty of Engineering, <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Community X: <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> individual community “farmers” || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Community Leader ||  ||
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Community X: end users of the final product: family members and friends ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Sponsor: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Permanent Secretary ||  ||
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Sponsor: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Permanent Secretary ||  ||
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Media Houses ||  ||   ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">3.1 PURPOSE
<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">The purpose of this project is to:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● introduce non-traditional farming methods to communities.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● make known hydroponic farming specifically to households in areas of sparse land.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● to support the State in its mandate to foster the sustainable use and conservation of agriculture and fisheries resources through appropriate science and technologies, knowledge management and economic integration that enables producers to realize profits.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● to secure food and nutrition requirements at a community or individual base.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● increase food production in the country, via “ non-farmers”.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">fulfil the requirements for PRGM 6002.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">3.2 JUSTIFICATION
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">As the world’s production of basic foods becomes more difficult, countries are exporting less of wheat, rice and vegetables so that Trinidad and Tobago, being a high importer of food finds itself with an ever-mounting food bill. It now becomes imperative that Trinidad and Tobago encourage its communities to enter agriculture at every stage and quickly introduce new methods of farming. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">This project <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">will be a contributor to this effort by introducing <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">and educating the <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">specific <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">publics to non-traditional cultivation methods. <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The advantages of hydroponics are many and some of these advantages as outlined on the highlife website (highlife.com.au) include:
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Faster and more vigorous growth.
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Less transplanting necessary.
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Easier maintenance ; there's less danger of over-or under watering.
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Greater control over growing conditions, leading to better crop production.
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Plants are not subject to soil-borne pests and diseases.
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● The hydroponic system is hypo-allergenic: no soil, no mould, no milder.
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● The media used in hydroponic growing can be used many times over and can be re-cycle.
 * <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Healthier root zone, producing healthier foliage and more plant production.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">4.0. BUSINESS ISSUE **
<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">This project will address the critical need to increase food production in the country by encouraging individual households to participate in such. It also supports the State in its mandate to reduce the vulnerability of Trinidad and Tobago to global food prices upswings. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">In discussion with a senior member of the Ministry of Agriculture, it was pointed out that hydroponic farming definitely falls within the purview of the present government’s goal of ‘Prosperity for All’ and its ‘Seven Interconnected Pillars for Sustainable Development’. On subsequent study, it can be seen that this hydroponic food production project can be enveloped under the following pillars: <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">People Centred Development. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Poverty Eradication and Social Justice. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">National and Personal Security. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Information and Communication Technologies. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">A more diversified, knowledge intensive economy. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">The National Food Production Plan, 2012-2015 (the Plan) which aims for self-sufficiency in six specific commodity groups, has vegetables production as one of the groups. Even though the method of hydroponics is not defined in the Plan, it clearly can be used to contribute to increased vegetable production so that this project can be the pioneering project in hydroponics. More than that, this project can be developed into a viable business with spin-off businesses. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">As a free-running enterprise, hydroponic production of crops such as lettuce and seasonings (herbs) can be very profitable. One of the great attractors from the consumer side is the pesticide free production. While this does make production more expensive, thus making the final price a bit higher than traditional growers, pesticide free is a very attractive component to consumers and with aggressive and focused marketing a niche market can be created. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Hydroponic production may also be used to enhance the ornamental plant industry of Trinidad and Tobago. Based on studies of Asia done by the Food and Agriculture Organization the demand for cut flowers is increasing worldwide indicating that there is still space for Trinidad and Tobago to make its mark in this arena. In the short-term, there is the potential demand within the Caricom market, supplying hotels and other areas of the tourist trade and while competition stiffens as one heads north, Trinidad and Tobago hydroponic growers of cut flowers may still find a place in the North American market. As gold medal winners times over at the British based Chelsea Flower Show, Trinidad and Tobago has a very strong reputation as a grower of beautiful flowers. Hydroponic flower growing can take advantage of this esteem in the medium-term, supplying the markets of Great Britain and Europe. Under the controlled conditions of hydroponics it can be assured that these cut flowers are grown perfectly, according to the demands of the customers. Long term, Trinidad and Tobago can look towards Asia as a market for the supply of specific flowers that cannot be supplied by the tropical areas of Asia. Flowers such as the chaconia, the national flower of Trinidad and Tobago, balisier and the like are not traditionally grown in the China, for example, and with proper exploration and marketing a long-term market may be created. <span style="color: #38761d; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Besides fruit and vegetable, and cut flowers production, another business platform can be the training of individuals and groups on establishing hydroponic farms: its methodology and operations. This training can be promoted throughout the Caribbean either directly or through the more satisfactory ‘train the trainer’ programme. There is also the supply side of hydroponics, that is, suppliers of the basic inputs into hydroponic farming would be needed. Evidence from Australia shows that this can prove to be a very fruitful business, supplying both the hobby and commercial marketplaces with items such as growing media, fertilisers, greenhouses, environmental controllers, pollination and pest control kits and the like.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">5.0. OBJECTIVES
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">In its 2001-2005 ‘Agricultural Policy Framework’ the government of Trinidad and Tobago outlined several goals and objectives which included increased agricultural production along with enhanced food security. This project considers goals taken from these periods <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">and also from the development framework of the present government <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">. These objectives are as follows:


 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Strategic Plan Element ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Project Business Objectives ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Increased agricultural production while sustaining renewable natural resources. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Introduce 3 short crops (lettuce, chive, peppers) for food production in 100 households. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Enhanced food security. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">100 households reduce their monthly spending on market goods by 2%. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Use of appropriate science and technologies. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Adoption of hydroponic technology using grow box. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Producers realize profits. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Generate entrepreneurial thinking. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Education || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Educational drive in a depleting career. ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">6.1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral solutions, in water, without soil. This project aims to introduce, develop and promote community-base and low-cost hydroponically grown food production to low-income families in Community X. It will enable these individuals to produce hydroponically-grow crops all year round for themselves allowing them to meet their own nutritional requirements and complement to their daily income. Ultimately, the project seeks to empower these individuals to become active participants in the country’s drive toward agricultural modernization and attainment of food.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">6.2. SCOPE
<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">This project includes: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">This project has excluded:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Holding meetings with the ministry, team members (all persons involved in the project).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Hiring and training personnel for delivery of the project.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Preparation of documentation for the community participants on the grow box drive.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Acquiring office space and equipment for setup.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Marketing idea to community (public).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Holding information work shops.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 11pt;">● allocating a budget for the grow box initiative.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">6.3. ASSUMPTIONS

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Support of the Ministries of Food, Production, Land and Marine Affairs and Community Development.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Community members will respond positively to the initiative.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Community will have the financial resources to participate in the project.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> 6.4. CONSTRAINTS

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Project must commence and be completed within the semester period.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Start-up costs are moderately high.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Financial support from Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Financial resources of participants.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Grow Box Technology must not be used to grow illegal plants <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 11pt;">.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Limited availability of fertilizer solution sources.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">7.0. PROJECT MILESTONES & DELIVERABLES **

 * <span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Milestone one: Grow box construction completed 9 days from start.
 * <span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Milestone two: Harvest first crop 39 days from start.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">8.0. PROJECT MANAGEMENT MILESTONES & DELIVERABLES

 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Milestone/Deliverable ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Estimated Date ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Person Responsible ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Project Proposal Completed || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">26 February, 2012 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Team BCDMNR ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Project Plan completed || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">4 March, 2012 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Team BCDMNR ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">9.0. BUDGET (ESTIMATED)
<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">An estimated budget for Project Grow Box taking into consideration the delivery of 100 Grow Boxes @ $TT 360.00 is approximately $TT 36,000.00. This however can be scalable according to the delivery of systems in the community chosen. Additional resources for office and staff expenditure will be approximately $TT 25,000.00 for the duration of the project.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">10.0 PERSONNEL & OTHER RESOURCES
<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Clerical Staff (1) ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Resources ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Description ** ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Project Team BCDMNR || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Consisting of 6 members ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Support || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Community Development officer (1)
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Facilities || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Training Space ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Equipment || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">hydroponic equipment & other training equipment. ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Tools || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">computer, overhead projector, etc. ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">11.0. RISKS

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Project proposal rejected by sponsors.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Low yields due to poor monitoring of plants
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Growth of illegal plant material.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● improper methodology followed by households leading to losses.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">● Failure due to loss of interest in the project by households and or project team.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">12.0. ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTATION

 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">1. Project Proposal Ideas: Opportunities and Benefits located on Googledocs
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">2. Googledocs: Pros and Cons.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">13.0. OTHER INFORMATION

 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">1. <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Mathura, Vidya, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Nicholls, Gideon, <span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Ramnarine, Jude, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> 2011. Project Grow Box.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">2. Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs. Accessed 26 February 2012. <span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://agriculture[|.]gov[|.][|tt][|/][|fplma][|/][|index][|.][|php][|?][|q][|=][|about][|-][|us][|/][|our][|-][|vision][|-][|and][|-][|mission][|-2811311975886]

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">14.0. APPROVAL SIGNATURESThe Signatures below document acceptance and approval of the formal Project Charter.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Position/Title ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Signature ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Date ** ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Sponsor Representative (Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Affairs) ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Sponsor Representative (UWI, Engineering) ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Programme Manager ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: justify;">Project Manager ||  ||   ||