Forging partnerships to build sustainability of agricultural sector in SVG

Barton Clarke, the new executive director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) is on a fact finding mission to St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

Clarke’s visit, which ran from September 6-9, sought to further develop CARDI’s partnership with the Government, academic, private and research institutions to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of this country’s agricultural sector.

The key areas for discussion with the Minister, technical and administrative staff of the Ministry of Agriculture were: Black Sigatoka and Moko disease in the struggling banana industry; climate change as it relates to root and tuber crops, especially dasheen and sweet potato, two major exports; and CARDI’s technical support to the Banana Adjustment Measures Project.

CARDI said it is supporting efforts to control the Black Sigatoka disease, through a CARDI/Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) funded project: “Development of an Integrated Disease Management Programme for Black Sigatoka Disease.” Evaluation of banana varieties tolerant to Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD) is underway and a workshop on the “Integrated Disease Management of the Black Sigatoka Disease.

CARDI further said it will continue to collaborate with St Vincent and the Grenadines, in its goal to achieving food security.