MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Islander Appointed First Falklands Organic Inspector

An Islander, Charlene Rowland, has been appointed the Falkland Islands first Organic Inspector in its bid to become the world's first officially certified organic country.

Her background and experience make her an ideal choice. Charlene Rowland, aged 41, was born and brought up on a remote sheep farm on West Falkland. She has previously worked at the Falklands Department of Agriculture (DoA) for eight years and has been involved in various farming policies, diversification initiatives and Government Grant schemes.

She is married to the Registrar General, John Rowland, and they have a 19-year- old daughter, Sarah, who recently became the youngest serving female Police Officer in the Falklands.

Mrs Rowland has passed a training course in the United Kingdom with the Shrewsbury- based Organic Farmers and Growers. Hers is newly- created post within the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) and Department of Agriculture (DoA).

Falklands Director of Agriculture, Bob Reid, said: "Charlene is playing an invaluable role within this exciting new initiative as part of the Falkland Islands' strategy to diversify exports and end its dependence on wool as the main agricultural crop."

Port Edgar on target to be first organic farm

She has already embarked on her new role, recently carrying out her first inspection on West Falkland at remote Port Edgar Farm, expected to become the first Falklands farm to gain organic status within the next few weeks. She was impressed by Port Edgar's cleanliness and neatness and the farm's healthy animals, surrounded by prolific wildlife, in particular Gentoo penguins and dolphins offshore.

The farm was bought in 1988 by former Port Stephens shepherd, Michael (Tex) Alazia, and his wife, Mandy Alazia. In true pioneer fashion, they have transformed it from a dilapidated shanty type house and cowshed to a fully equipped working farm. They have built a new four-bedroom house, a wool shed and pens, forty miles ( 65 kilometres) of fencing, numerous sheds, a garage, a cottage for Mandy's mother, and a schoolroom for their three daughters, Rhian (two), Fayan (8) and Felicity (10).

The farm, covering about 10,200 hectares, sustains 6,200 Corriedale sheep, and a smallholding of 250 hens, producing 90 dozen free-range eggs weekly for sale all over the Islands. Its rough terrain of mountains, valleys and ditches, three hours drive fro