CARDI Showcases Agricultural Innovations To Boost Regional Food Production
Research is moving beyond the laboratory and into the field, as the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) showcases innovations aimed at boosting production, reducing food imports and building a more resilient agricultural sector.
Farmers, agro-processors, entrepreneurs, students and regional stakeholders were exposed to the latest agricultural research, data and technological advancements during CARDI’s Research and Innovation Symposium on Wednesday.
Executive Director of CARDI, Ansari Hosein, described the event as a significant milestone for the institution and its efforts to support sustainable and climate-resilient food systems across the region.
« Today is very significant for CARDI since post-Covid. I think this is our first event where we actually have most of our scientists all in one location, presenting work that would’ve been done over the past three years to four years, throughout our 14 member states that CARDI operates in. »
Manager of Science, Technology and Innovation at CARDI, Fayaz Shah, outlined a range of technologies and production methods being showcased during the technical sessions.
« So what we presenting today are opportunities to have higher increased production in crops like sweet potato, cassava, dasheen, all these are crops where CARDI was able to show increases over what farmers currently obtain in their fields. So roughly almost 30% more yields is what we’re demonstrating, technologies that can be used for farmers to increase their yields, using very low-cost technologies that are sustainable as well. »
He added that wider adoption of these practices could help reduce the region’s food import bill, including the more than US$200 million spent on imported corn grains, while improving the quality of agricultural produce.
Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ravi Pooran Maharaj, welcomed the initiative, emphasising the importance of collaboration.
« Working together we are capable of developing solutions that are practical, innovative, and uniquely suited to our realities. »
Chairman of the Board of Governors for CARDI and Grenada’s Minister for Economic Development, Planning, and Agriculture and Lands, Lennox Andrews, called on regional leaders to strengthen investment in agricultural research to ensure CARDI can continue delivering solutions and training programmes throughout the Caribbean.
« And so if we want CARDI to keep providing solutions for yam roast management in Dominica or conducting vital youth-training assessments like the recent one in St Lucia, we, the leaders, must give them the financial tools. We must give them the financial tools for the job to be done. »
Meanwhile, farmer Ramdeo Boondoo expressed optimism that the technological advancements and practical solutions showcased at the symposium would inspire more young people to pursue careers in the evolving agriculture sector.
