Farmers from three areas throughout the island acquired hands-on coaching and useful insights into how completely different styles of tomatoes reply to various environmental situations throughout a workshop held yesterday on the Nationwide Expertise Improvement Centre (NSDC) in Vieux-Fort.
The session was organised by Sustainable Agriculture within the Caribbean (SAC) and funded by the World College Service of Canada (WUSC). The initiative is a part of ongoing efforts to enhance tomato manufacturing and resilience in opposition to illness and poor yield.
“What we’re doing right here at this time, is trying on the outcome from some work we’ve been doing over the previous yr in tomato manufacturing in varied elements of the island. We’ve got been trying particularly at 9 styles of tomatoes,” Johnny Smith, Crop Manufacturing Officer, instructed Loop Information.
Smith defined that the examine not solely assessed which environmental components negatively impacted the crops but in addition recognized the tomato varieties that demonstrated higher resistance to illnesses. He emphasised the significance of strategic selection choice based mostly on seasonal situations.
“We would like farmers to take a holistic strategy to tomato cultivation,” Smith mentioned. “This coaching helps them make knowledgeable choices when selecting which varieties to plant, relying on the time of yr.”
He mentioned what they noticed within the area affected the efficiency of these vegetation.
“They manifested completely different illnesses signs and their means to take care of their well being,” Smith mentioned.
In accordance with Smith aside from trying on the components which affected the vegetation, additionally they regarded on the number of tomatoes which stood as much as varied illnesses.
“The farmers can have a greater concept by way of managing their selection choice relying on the season of the yr. We would like them to have a holistic strategy to tomato cultivation after they go to plant tomatoes sooner or later,” Smith mentioned.
Throughout the coaching session, he recognized among the deficiency he noticed on the sector and made some suggestions to the farmers based mostly on what he noticed.
In an interview with Dunston Demille, perishable supervisor of Massy Shops and an advisor on the Particular Advisory Committee for WUSU, he mentioned: “Massy Shops work intently with the agriculture sector in a approach I don’t know anyone does…”
He added: “When it comes to transferring into new number of tomatoes and doing trial of some new selection, it is going to be useful not solely to us, but in addition to the farmers as a result of they’ve been having quite a few failed crops.”
He mentioned they don’t seem to be getting the yield that they’re on the lookout for, so it won’t be as worthwhile for them.
“Wanting on the shopper aspect, we’re having quite a lot of dissatisfied prospects as a result of we’re not having the merchandise out there constantly for the shoppers,” Demille mentioned.
The coaching session concluded with tomato tasting and a area go to to a trial farm in Beausejour, Vieux-Fort, the place farmers noticed firsthand how varied tomato varieties responded below completely different situations.
By Kingsley Emanuel
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