From increasing pineapple production to managing sweet potato weevils and giant African snails – Montserrat’s agriculture industry is getting a helping hand this year.
The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) will be supporting the government in planning and implementing several development initiatives.
It will be working in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment from May to December, according to a government press release on 24 April.
The efforts will build on CARDI’s previous initiatives and achievements undertaken in Montserrat from 2019 to 2024.
Coconut industry
CARDI plans to source and introduce lethal yellowing tolerant coconut varieties for establishment of a seed garden.
These plants will be the source of future planting material for farmers, the press release said.
The varieties to be imported are 100 Brazilian green dwarf seed nuts from Mexico, 100 Maypan seed nuts from Jamaica, and 50 Panama tall seed nuts from Mexico.
Livestock development
CARDI is seeking the help of Jamaican technical experts to train farmers and livestock workers from the Agriculture Ministry on artificial insemination of pigs and small ruminants.
The institute will also provide planting material for foraging plants including Chrysopogon (sweet grass), Gliricidia (rainfall tree) and Mulberry (fruit tree) to farmers.
And it will establish a forage bank at the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment headquarters, the press release said.
Pineapple industry
The institute is currently assisting with the characterisation of pineapples produced on the island.
As a follow up to this activity, it plans to implement a programme to increase the supply of pure planting material of the characterised variety.
In the interim, CARDI will introduce Antigua black plantlets from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines into Montserrat and evaluate its agro-ecological performance.
Hot sauce industry
CARDI has instituted a programme to support the commercialisation of Scotch bonnet, by ramping up the production of seeds.
It will organise capacity building workshops geared towards improving hot pepper production and yield to complement this initiative.
Both activities will contribute to improving the raw material base for hot sauce production.
Sweet potato weevils
As part of an integrated pest management programme, CARDI will help establish an on-farm plot to demonstrate improved pheromone mass trapping of the sweet potato weevil.
Pheromone mass trapping is an alternative form of pest control using the insect’s secretions to attract males of the species, so reducing the breeding population.
Giant African snails
The institute will conduct sensitisation and training on biosecurity measures against the giant African snail.
