Cassava yields in Trinidad and Tobago expected to rise!

The Food Security Programme of Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs (MEPLMA) along side the National Food Production Action Plan 2012-2015 has acknowledged Cassava as one of the country's staples. This acknowledgement has incited the participation of the Columbia's International Centre for Tropical Agriculture. The National Food Production Action Plan main objective is to increase cassava production from 5,454 tonnes to 18,182 tonnes. To carry-out this objective a week research programme was held at the UWI involving the following members: 

• Dr. Clair Hershey, leader of the Cassava Programme at  Columbia's International Centre for Tropical Agriculture
• Dr. Judy Rouse-Miller, Lecturer of Botany at UWI (facilitator for Dr. Clair Hershey)
• Dr. Roosevelt Escobar, leading research scientist in Colombia

Columbia's International Centre for Tropical Agriculture has been successful in executing micro propagation of cassava clones with the use of cost-efficient temporary tissue culture systems. These culture systems provides rapid turnover of planting material for cassava production. This method has been perceived as a viable source for sustainable development, since it is capable of increasing cassava production. 

To read more on this topic: Cassava yields expected to rise

OECS celebrates 32 years

In Castries, St. Lucia the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) celebrated its 32nd anniversary on Tuesday 18th June, 2013. The officials of the OECS marked the occasion by highlighting the number of achievements as well as the institution of the Economic Union for the past three decades.

The OECS member states comprises of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

This group has collaborated on the following initiatives to date:

• a collective plan of action to develop the agricultural sector.
• training in information and communications technology for persons associated with the agriculture sector, with particular reference to the collection and management of critical data and related information. 
• increased efforts towards enhancing agriculture food and health safety systems in member states.
• advancement on the implementation of an agreed OECS Common Tourism Policy.

To read more: OECS celebrates 32 years

Caribbean Looks at Financial Approach to Combat Climate Change

The Caribbean is " the most vulnerable region in the world to natural hazards" and natural hazards "have been increasing in intensity and adversely impacting the region's economic growth," according to Warren Smith, president of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). A recent  International Monetary Fund (IMF) report states that the annual economic cost of damage due to natural hazards is one percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Furthermore, Smith declared that "growth prospects for our most vulnerable countries will be enhanced if resources for climate resilience can be front-loaded as part of a more comprehensive adjustment package... Climate adaptation interventions should be fast-tracked and targeted at the most vulnerable economic sectors, primarily tourism and agriculture."

The CDB along with the European Investment Bank are developing projects with a funding amount of less than 65 million dollars under the Climate Action Line of Credit (CALC). This credit line finances low cost projects that builds resilience against climate change, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation and dwindling water supplies.

To read more on this topic: Caribbean Looks at Financial Approach to Combat Climate Change

Cuban President Raul Castro Meets with Prime Minister of Saint Lucia

Cuban President Raul Castro and the Honorable Dr. Kenny Davis Anthony, Prime Minister of St. Lucia held meetings in Havana to discuss the state of diplomatic cooperation links, and the issues of bilateral and international interest.

In addition to the President and Prime Minister, the following members were also present:

1. The Honorable Moses Ju Baptiste, Minister of Agriculture, Food Production, Fisheries and Rural Development of Saint Lucia;
2. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba;
3. Marcelino Medina, Cuba's Acting Foreign Minister.

To read more on this subject, please click the link provided: Cuban President Raul Castro Meets with Prime Minister of Saint Lucia

Prime Minister of St. Lucia Heads to Cuba

St. Lucia Prime Minister, Kenny Davis Anthony, arrived in Cuba on Monday 27th May, 2013. The Prime Minister will stay in Cuba until June 1st, 2013 in order to strength the diplomatic level bilateral ties - established in August 1979 - between Cuba and St. Lucia. 

His agenda includes talks with the local officials and visits to scientific, medical and educational places of interest. Among the scientific places of interest is the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and a nursery in Havana. This centre is linked to urban agriculture.

To read more, please click on the title: Prime Minister of St. Lucia Heads to Cuba to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Agriculture Research and Development

The Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) for Central America and the Caribbean conducted a two-day training workshop, which was hosted in Costa Rica. This training workshop was conducted as a component of on-going project called  "Tracking Agricultural R&D Investments and Capacities in Central America and the Caribbean".

The Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI)  is administered by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The ASTI is known for agricultural R&D statistics in developing countries.

Photo Courtesy of CARDI

Agriculture R&D comprises of the following tasks:

1. Compiling analyses 
2. Publishing data on institutional developments
3. Investments
4. Capacity trends in agricultural R&D in low- and middle-income countries worldwide 

Future goals of ASTI:
To work closely with CIAT, IICA, and national partners in order to conduct a new survey in Central America and the Caribbean. This survey will provide information on the size, scope, and structure of agricultural R&D in the region.

Challenges:
Lack of information in the following areas:

1. Basic information on the size and scope of agricultural R&D capacity and investments, 
2. The changing institutional structure and functioning of agricultural research agencies, 
3. Science and technologies policies

Required Tools:

1. Quantitative information - to better understand the agricultural growth. 
2. R&D indicators - to measure and monitor inputs, outputs, and performance of agricultural R&D systems. 
3. Stakeholders Observations - to identify trends in agricultural R&D investments and capacity, neglected areas, and research. 

Solution:
The Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) program of the International Food Policy Institute (IFPRI): 
This program is design to collect, analysis, and synthesize information on agricultural R&D investment, capacity, and policy in developing countries. It is capable of providing data trends, such as the advancement of human and financial capacity in agricultural research.

Further Steps:
Studies in 10 CARICOM states will be conducted by CARDI - who is currently under contracted with IFPRI - in order to produce sufficient data needed for the R&D investments in the agriculture sector. These CARICOM states are as follows: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

To read more, click the title: Agriculture Research and Development

Towards Caribbean e-Agriculture

"Despite high mobile penetration in Caribbean developing nations, using ICTs for business activities is still an obstacle for many smallholders in the agricultural sector," according to Mr. Antoine and Mr. Phillips.

Even though the Caribbean region has displayed mobile phone penetration advancements -  some islands achieving 166%, compared with 128% in Europe, 104% in the United States and 76% in China - full use of ICTs in business activities are currently achieving lower numbers. The Caribbean government and economic planners are concern about this growing trend according to "Towards Caribbean e-Agriculture". 

The current challenges associated with this trend are:

1. Awareness - " smallholder and subsistence farmers in the Caribbean are often unaware of existing ICT services...Few of the farmers in the region have smartphones that can access online services, so SMS-based applications may be more useful to farmers who either do not have smartphones or are not inclined to uptake data and mobile internet packages."
2. Targeting - "agricultural market reports and analyses tend be geared more to researchers, academics and managers of large operations than to small farmers and agri-business operators. The challenge is to encourage these service providers to provide more customised content, and in media formats that are most familiar to the majority of agricultural stakeholders."

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The article continues by stating the need to address the challenges. One solution that is available is education/ training:

• Web 2.0 for Agriculture training is available in the Caribbean region. This training session is hosted by The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation and is delivered by INFOCOMM Technologies Limited. Participants are trained in the following key areas: RSS feeds and alerts, wikis, Google docs, VoIP, online mapping, online publishing, blogging and social media.

 To read more, please click the link provided: Towards Caribbean e-Agriculture