Four young Barbadians will have an opportunity to learn more about ferro-cement technology through project which could bring relief to farmers across the island who suffer from water shortages.
The Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) is conducting a workshop in the use of ferro-cement technology in the provision of water storage tanks for the local farming population.
The workshop started last Monday and will run until Friday, February 18, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day at the River Plantation, St. Philip.
The objective of the workshop will be to construct a 4, 000 gallon ferro-cement Tank at River Plantation, St. Philip to assist a Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) black belly sheep farmer who has been experiencing shortages during the dry season.
The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the BAS, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Fund Access.
It is hoped that through promoting the use of the tank, the technology would become of interest to homeowners and commercial entities.
"Through the exercise of constructing the tank, we are seeking to train young Barbadian entrepreneurs, instructors and students who have an interest in construction, engineering and masonry. It is hoped that these persons in turn, having learnt the techniques and technology, could take advantage of any opportunities if there were any other requests by the public in having a similar tank built," an official explained.
Ferro-cement is standard cement which is usually mixed with plaster sand. The standard cement is reinforced with more steel or fibre at a closer spacing than traditional construction. This reduced spacing increases strength and resistance to impact.
It is used to make shell roofs, hulls for boats, and water tanks, as well as sculptures and prefabricated building components.
Further information on the workshop or the project may be obtained by contacting the Land Lease Department of the BADMC at 428-0250.??