Workshop on Antimicrobial Treatment and Post-Harvest Practices for Dasheen
On February 27, 2024, Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC), the implementing partner for the USAID Caribbean Agricultural Productivity improvement Activity (CAPA), hosted a workshop on antimicrobial treatments and post-harvest practices for dasheen in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The workshop convened exporters, farmers, buyers, input suppliers, extension service providers, development partners, and research organizations involved in agriculture development for a presentation of Dr. Jean-Saville Cummings’ research on effective antimicrobial treatments for dasheen, conducted on behalf of CAPA.
The dasheen value chain was identified by exporters and other stakeholders as an important sub-sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as demonstrated by the establishment of the Windward Islands Trade Corridor. The workshop aimed to build the capacity of exporters and farmers to meet the requirements of export markets.
During the opening ceremony, IESC’s Deputy Program Director for CAPA Raquel Peters informed stakeholders that, in addition to the alternative antimicrobial treatment training, the workshop was intended to raise awareness of the benefits of using plant protection and growth enhancement products suitable for increasing productivity in dasheen cultivation. Ms. Peters further stated that CAPA uses an integrated value chain approach to facilitate the introduction of climate-smart practices to increase yields and the adoption of on-farm and other technologies to strengthen farm to market linkages and support value addition.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry, and Labour Nerissa Gittens emphasized the importance and relevance of the post-harvest trials for dasheen and the need to strengthen the dasheen value chain to take advantage of opportunities created for producers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Permanent Secretary Gittens informed exporters and farmers that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has the potential to become the “breadbasket” of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States sub-region. She noted that the government continues to work toward that vision and applauded USAID and IESC for this timely CAPA initiative.
Alban Williams, technical officer at Agricultural Input Warehouse Ltd., an input supplies company that offers a range of agricultural inputs, equipment, agronomy services, and marketing assistance for agricultural outputs, advised farmers on the availability and benefits of plant protection products. He discussed the importance of applying treatments before planting, during cultivation, and during post-harvest handling stages to prevent pest and disease infestation.
Roshelle McKie, a farmer who participated in the workshop, indicated that she gained knowledge and better understands what contributes to dasheen losses. She noted that the information gained will allow her to take corrective action. Another participant, Jethro Greene, chief coordinator for the Eastern Caribbean Trading Agriculture and Development Organization, noted that he was extremely impressed with the presentation from Dr. Cummings on antimicrobial treatment for dasheen.
Through CAPA, IESC recognizes that research and development should remain an ongoing process and hopes that the information presented in the workshop becomes a practical tool available for stakeholders.
The Caribbean Agricultural Productivity improvement Activity (CAPA) is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from the American people. USAID administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide. IESC implements CAPA in partnership with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation (IICA).
