Sweet Potato in the Caribbean: things that you wanted to know, but did not know whom to ask

Lots of research and trials into various aspects of sweet potato production and processing have been done in the Caribbean, but many farmers and food processors have not been able to access the results of the research and trials. Often the research information remains in the domain of the research institution with very little, if any, outreach to targeted groups who may benefit from the information. Sometimes, the information is not translated and packaged into a format for ease of uptake among the various stakeholder groups, and remain mostly an academic exercise.

Recently, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank has made a renewed attempt to prepare useful information on sweet potato, that is potentially useful to many stakeholders throughout the Caribbean and elsewhere in the world.

The Multicrop Facility Ltd was engaged to produce a series of short videos (among other things), on various aspects of sweet potato agronomy, processing and value addition. Below are the links to these video documentaries which you may use or share with persons or agencies with an interest in sweet potato.

Sweet Potato Production and Use in the Caribbean

Sweet Potato Varieties Adaptability and Identification

Sweet Potato Agronomy

Sweet Potato Pest and Disease Management

Returns per Drop Water Use Management

Fertilisation and Nutrient Status in Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato Post-Harvest Management

Marketing Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato a Tasty Nutraceutical

New Opportunities in Business

Status of the Sweet Potato Industry

Hopefully, these short videos will stimulate further interest in sweet potato as a strategic commodity to improve healthy lifestyles and sustainable livelihoods.

Back again...I hope.

 Time for renewal

So...I have been away from this blog for too long...just fedup with the agricultural situation here in T&T and the lack of a coherent, enlightened and progressive policy environment for agriculture in the country. Of course, the bright UWI graduates in leadership and supervisory positions at the Ministry of Agriculture seem unable to make a tangible and needed difference.

Anyway...a bright spot has emerged after issues of neglect and negligence were highlighted in a recent video...do take a look at the video...

Subsequent to the video getting the Minister's attention, a meeting with the Minister, senior Ministry of Agriculture staff and the farmers were held to decide on the way forward. This eventually led to the allocation of TT$9 million to deal with some of the issues identified in the video. Additionally, several farmers were able to get documentation from the Commissioner of State Land to regularise their land tenure in the area.

Perhaps, all those tonnes of technical studies on agriculture need to be turned into exciting videos and shared widely to stimulate needed action!

A word about social media...

I am not convinced that our decision makers at the government institutions, farmer groups, and farmer support agencies fully understand how technology and technology uses are developing. I am not yet convinced that we sufficiently understand how social media as an example, could be harnessed to improve farmer access to marketing information and buyers or crop and pest control advice. Have a look at the short video below and think about how farmers and farm support stakeholders could benefit from the revolution in social media.