Fourteen members of the Eco-Home Garden Project and Helen’s Daughters participated in a targeted agricultural training session today at the Dumbarton Agricultural Station. The activity focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of the value-chain approach and improving their technical knowledge of soursop, coconut and passion fruit production.
Facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, the session emphasized the importance of viewing agriculture as more than primary production and more about community livelihoods. Participants explored how decisions made about agriculture value chains including commodity selection, and production planning can influence access to markets.
The training also introduced participants to approaches for identifying and selecting high-priority agricultural commodities. Discussions highlighted the need to consider market demand, and opportunities for value addition when deciding which commodities to develop or markets to leverage.
Technical presentations covered recommended production practices for soursop, coconut and passion fruit. Participants were introduced to key considerations for establishing and managing these crops, including planting-material selection, crop nutrition, orchard management, pest and disease management, and the importance of maintaining healthy and productive plants. The session also provided an opportunity for participants to discuss practical production challenges and relate the information to their own farms and home gardens.
The activity formed part of a wider week of agricultural capacity-building undertaken by the FAO team in collaboration with national stakeholders. Earlier in the week, 30 farmers and technical staff from the Ministry responsible for agriculture participated in a comprehensive training session at the Barrouallie Learning Resource Centre.
That session examined the botany and production of coconut and soursop in greater depth. It strengthened participants’ understanding of plant growth and development while covering practical considerations for crop productivity. Bringing farmers and technical officers together also supported the exchange of field experience and technical knowledge.
The two activities reflect the partnership continued support for building the capacity of farmers, community organizations and agricultural personnel in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
