From drip irrigation to smarter fertiliser use, farmers across Saint Lucia are learning practical techniques aimed at improving crop production and building resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
The hands-on training sessions, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, brought together farmers and agricultural professionals from across the island.
The training, “Practical Integrated Crop Management: Improving Crop Performance through Irrigation, Fertigation and Nutrient Management”, was held earlier this month in Soufrière and in Union.
A total of 38 participants, including farmers, nursery operators, agricultural officers, extension personnel, technical specialists, ministry support staff and representatives from the public and private sectors, took part in the sessions.
According to the FAO, hosting the training in both the north and south of the island made it more accessible while allowing participants to examine how irrigation and fertigation practices can be adapted to Saint Lucia’s varying farming conditions.
Led by FAO Horticulture Specialist Marcko Theodoracopoulos and Plant Production and Protection Specialist Anne Desrochers, the sessions explored the relationship between irrigation, fertigation, crop nutrition, plant growth stages and field conditions, and how these factors can be integrated into day-to-day farm management.
Participants also received practical instruction on designing, operating and maintaining drip irrigation systems, including filtration, flushing, leak prevention and managing water flow and pressure.
Particular attention was given to the challenges of operating irrigation systems in Saint Lucia’s hilly terrain, where changes in elevation can affect water pressure and the even distribution of water and nutrients.
The training also covered the installation and calibration of Venturi fertiliser injectors, fertiliser preparation and injection rates. Participants learned techniques to prevent system blockages, prepare stock solutions and use electrical conductivity and pH measurements to guide fertigation and reduce crop stress.
Hands-on demonstrations allowed participants to observe irrigation and fertigation systems under working farm conditions, troubleshoot common problems and consider how the technologies could be adapted to their own operations.
FAO Plant Production and Protection Specialist and Lead Technical Officer for the project, Anne Desrochers, said holding the sessions in different parts of the island made the training more relevant to participants.
“Delivering the training in the North and South allowed participants to relate the technical information directly to the conditions they manage on their farms. Irrigation and fertigation systems must be adapted to each site, particularly where terrain, water access and pressure vary. Strengthening farmers’ and extension officers’ capacity to make these adjustments is essential for ensuring that the technologies provided through the project are used effectively and sustainably.”
Farmer Erbert Lionel, who attended the Soufrière session, described the training as both interesting and valuable.
“On behalf of the farmers, I would like to sincerely thank FAO for helping us better understand these practices and how to combine them to achieve better results,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anderson Emillaire, who participated in the Union session, said the workshop reinforced existing knowledge while introducing new ideas.
“We really appreciate the knowledge provided during the session. Even where some of the topics were familiar, it was helpful to revisit them, and we would welcome more training as the project progresses,” he said.
The training formed part of a wider FAO technical mission carried out in Saint Lucia.
During the mission, FAO specialists and Ministry of Agriculture officials visited beneficiary farms to assess progress on land and greenhouse preparation, water access, irrigation requirements and the installation of project technologies.
Farmers also received one-on-one guidance on bed layout, contour alignment, drainage, water flow and pressure, and the placement of irrigation mainlines and driplines before installation works proceed.
The mission included a visit to a recently refurbished biological control laboratory commissioned under the same project, which is expected to strengthen Saint Lucia’s capacity to produce and use biological control agents as part of wider efforts to improve integrated pest management and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.
