CARDIcaribbean

🍅🇻🇨 Promising Tomato Trial Underway in Beliles, St. Vincent and the Grenadines!

On August 3rd, CARDI delivered and transplanted eight elite tomato varieties at Miss Morris's farm in Beliles, Region 1, marking a key milestone in our regional evaluation project with the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg).

Situated on the leeward side of the island at an elevation of approximately 1,300 feet, the site features excellent soil quality - ideal for evaluating crop performance under real-world farming conditions.

Trial Overview & Lineup:
- A total of 400 plants across eight distinct varieties were transplanted:
- Three WorldVeg varieties selected from 2024 evaluations for their superior yield, pest and disease resistance, and climate adaptation.
- Four WorldVeg varieties identified as top performers during CARDI’s 2025 field station trials.
- CARDI's Ansel variety, serving as a trusted local control.

Collaborative Monitoring & Next Steps:
Working alongside Extension Officer Miss Phyllis Wilson, who identified the host farmer, our team will monitor the plot and collect ongoing yield data. The primary objective is to select the most resilient, high-yielding varieties to multiply and distribute directly to farmers in SVG and Belize.

Tomato remains a priority crop for Caribbean food security and import substitution. Through trials like this, CARDI continues to build climate resilience, protect farmer livelihoods, and reduce the region's reliance on food imports! 🌾🛡️

📣 Regional Announcement: Virtual Consultation & Validation Series for Youth in Agriculture 🌴

CARDI, in partnership with the CARICOM Agriculture Youth Advisory Body (CAYAB), invites all agricultural stakeholders to join an upcoming virtual regional consultation and validation series, launching on August 11th, 2026, and running weekly through September 15th, 2026.

This vital series brings together youth leaders, Member States, regional institutions, academia, producer organizations, development partners, and the private sector to ensure young voices are directly involved in shaping regional agrifood policy.

Main Focus Areas:
• Validate the revised CAYAB Institutional Framework
• Refine the Local Agriculture First Policy
• Gather technical and stakeholder recommendations
• Strengthen regional ownership of CAYAB's institutional development
• Support meaningful, impactful youth participation in agriculture implementation

About the Project:
This series is a key deliverable of the project “Supporting an enabling environment for enhanced youth participation in the CARICOM Agri-food system,” implemented by CARDI in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat and CAYAB, with financial support from the UN-FAO.

By strengthening CAYAB’s governance structure, we are enabling Caribbean youth to articulate solutions within policy processes - driving progress toward food security, sectoral growth, and wealth creation across our region. 🌾📈

👉 See attached for the Session 1 flyer and registration details!

🌱 Hands-On Learning in La Ressource: Farmer Field School on Yam Miniset Propagation! 🇱🇨

A strong agricultural sector relies on practical knowledge sharing! CARDI was pleased to host a Farmer Field School on Yam Miniset Production at our Saint Lucia Field Station in La Ressource, Dennery.

This initiative forms part of CARDI’s ongoing work program, executed in close partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture Region Extension Office and Massy Stores Saint Lucia.

We were thrilled to welcome 32 dedicated participants (17 men and 15 women, including vibrant young farmers). Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with farmers expressing their excitement over the new practical techniques they learned.

Step-by-Step Field Station Training Highlights:

Miniset Preparation: Demonstrating precise cutting techniques to turn seed yams into uniform miniset pieces.

Seed Treatment: Dipping miniset pieces into pre-treatment mixtures to protect against soil-borne pests and diseases.

Bin Construction: Building sturdy raised bins using concrete blocks and filling/levelling them with nutrient-rich compost.

Planting & Weather Protection: Properly spacing the minisets and covering the bins to safeguard the fragile nursery material from heavy rainy-season downpours.

By equipping farmers with miniset technology, we are ensuring a steady, high-quality supply of yam planting material for Saint Lucia! 🥔📊

🤝 Strengthening Partnerships for Regional Food Security: CARDI Pays Courtesy Call on Minister of Agriculture, Guyana 🇬🇾✨

Executive Director of CARDI, Mr. Ansari Hosein, recently paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture, Guyana, to formally introduce the newly appointed CARDI Guyana Country Representative, Mr. Barry Joefield!

The engagement provided a timely opportunity to discuss key areas of shared priority, deepen collaboration, and align institutional support with Guyana’s dynamic agricultural expansion agenda.

CARDI deeply values its enduring partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Government of Guyana. Through targeted research, technological innovation, and continuous capacity building, we look forward to driving sustainable growth, increasing productivity, and building a competitive, climate-resilient agri-food sector! 🌾🇬🇾

🎓🌱 Investing in the Next Generation: UWI Interns Complete Hands-On Internship at CARDI! 🇹🇹

Over the past nine weeks, CARDI was proud to host four dedicated interns from the University of the West Indies (UWI): Naomi Best, Heidi Beharrysingh, Cydney Homer, and Jesse Nagapen.

These future agricultural leaders jumped straight into the field, working tirelessly under hot sun and pouring rain to support our ongoing corn research project. Their hard work is a vital contribution toward transforming Caribbean agri-food systems and ensuring healthy, safe, locally grown food for our region.

Here is what three of our interns had to say about their experience:

"It was amazing getting to experience all the different aspects of CARDI and the agricultural industry." — Naomi Best

"Working at CARDI was a very rewarding experience learning about research analysis, field operations, and agricultural initiatives for the further development of Trinidad and Tobago." — Heidi Beharrysingh

"Had an interesting time, learnt new information and gained a unique work experience." — Cydney Homer

We extend our sincere thanks to Naomi, Heidi, Cydney, and Jesse for their dedication and enthusiasm! We wish them all the best as they continue their academic and professional journeys in agricultural science. 🌾📊

🥦🥩 CARDI x BADMC Crop Over Activation: Local Broccoli Takes Center Stage in St. Philip! 🇧🇧🎉

CARDI was delighted to team up with the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) and the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) for an exciting Crop Over activation at Groves, St. Philip last Saturday!

Patrons gathered to enjoy a line-up of delicious samples featuring BADMC products, including locally sourced rib-eye steak paired perfectly with fresh broccoli and nutritious broccoli leaves harvested directly from CARDI’s ongoing varietal trial in Barbados!

The public response was overwhelmingly positive:

Superior Flavor: Many patrons shared that they preferred the fresh taste and quality of our locally grown broccoli over imported varieties.

Sold Out Success: The demand was so high that every single head of local broccoli available at the BADMC shop was sold out before the event even wrapped up!

We are proud to collaborate with BADMC and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security to expand local broccoli production and move Barbados closer to a year-round supply. Together, we’re growing a stronger, more resilient food future! 🌾🇧🇧

🥦 CARDI & Ministry Launch Groundbreaking Broccoli Varietal Trial in Barbados! 🇧🇧

Broccoli ranks among the top 10 imported vegetables in Barbados. To help reduce the national food import bill and support year-round local production, CARDI - in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security - has commenced a major broccoli varietal trial!

Over the past few months (May to July 2026), the team evaluated 14 broccoli varieties - including nine open-pollinated varieties sourced from the World Vegetable Center and five commercial hybrids. The study focused on evaluating heat tolerance, pest and disease resistance, and overall head quality under local climate conditions.

Open Day Highlights:
On July 23rd, 2026, CARDI hosted a successful Open Day at the trial site. In attendance were the Hon. Minister of Agriculture Dr. Shantal Monro-Knight , Permanent Secretary Ethnie Bellamy-Weekes, the Chief Agricultural Officer Paul Lucas, Ministry representatives, and key industry stakeholders, who all got a firsthand look at these high-performing, climate-resilient varieties.

Diversifying local crop production is essential for regional food security, and identifying heat-tolerant broccoli varieties brings Barbados one step closer to year-round self-sufficiency! 🌾🇧🇧

🍠 Addressing Sweet Potato Pest Challenges in St. Vincent and the Grenadines! 🇻🇨

Sweet potato is a vital staple, export, and processing crop in SVG, but local production faces severe threats from two main pests: the sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius) and the white grub (Phyllophaga spp.). Together, these pests cause farmers to lose 20% to 30% of their harvest, damaging stems and tubers and leaving them unmarketable.

To tackle this perennial issue, CARDI, in close collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the SVG Ministry of Agriculture, is launching target control trials on local farms!

Field Visit & Trial Details:

Host Farmer Collaboration: The team visited prominent sweet potato farmer Mr. Ashton Gibson in Queen’s Drive—recommended by Mr. Isaac Yearwood of the Ministry’s Extension and Advisory Services—where significant white grub damage was observed in recent harvests.

Evaluating 5 Treatments: The upcoming trial on Mr. Gibson's farm will compare conventional treatments against organic alternatives:

- Control (untreated)
- Chemical: Diazinon
- Chemical: Imidacloprid
- Chemical: Bifenthrin
- Organic/Biological control: Beauveria bassiana

Our goal is to generate concrete, data-backed recommendations to help Mr. Gibson and sweet potato farmers across St. Vincent and the Grenadines safeguard their crop yields and boost marketability! 🌾📊

🌱 Promising Progress in St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Plantain & Dasheen Intercropping Project Thrives! 🇻🇨

A recent field visit to our plantain and dasheen (taro) intercropping initiative in SVG revealed outstanding plant growth and climate resilience!

Implemented by CARDI in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), funded by the European Union (EU), and working closely with the SVG Ministry of Agriculture, this project is proving the power of smart, climate-resilient farming system design.

Key Field Observations & Highlights:

Microclimate Benefits: The canopy from the taller plantain trees provides natural shade for the dasheen, significantly reducing evapotranspiration and conserving soil moisture.

Drought Resilience: At five months in, the intercropped system has demonstrated superior resilience during recent dry conditions compared to surrounding monoculture crops.

Farmer Endorsement: The host farmer praised the growth rate and resilience of the system, noting plans to expand his own plantain and dasheen acreage using this model!

Crop Health: Plants are thriving - reaching 6 feet and taller in several areas - with no major pest or disease issues noted.

The team will next be applying additional targeted fertilization to support the plantains as they continue to mature. 🚜📊