Regional Training Workshop on Farmer Participatory Methods for ecological Crop Management

Report
In collaboration with CAB International, the Central Experiment Station Centeno and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute

11-15 September 2000 Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Trinidad and Tobago

• Download complete document ( pdf, 697 kb)
• Download Part 1 - Report of the workshop ( pdf, 371 kb)
• Download Part 2 - Country presentations ( pdf, 437 kb)
• Download Part 3 - Annexes ( pdf, 137 kb)

Pesticide abuse is increasing in many Caribbean countries with negative effects on farm family income, farmer and farm worker health, and consumer health. Pesticide run-off can have negative effects on sources of freshwater sources and coastal environment. This can impact negatively on tourism, the region's key income generation.

Against this background it has become imperative to find alternatives and to rationalize use of chemical pesticides. Clearly, the need for the development and implementation of sustainable pest management practices cannot be over-emphasised. Indeed, several recent regional meetings have prioritised development of IPM/ICM systems. In response to this need CAB INTERNATIONAL, CTA, CARDI and PROCICARIBE jointly organised the Regional Training Workshop on Farmer Participatory Methods for Ecological Crop Management, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, by kind invitation of the Ministry of Agriculture Land and Marine Resources (MALMR). The 5-day workshop was organised by CTA, CABI, CARDI and MALMR, with financial support from CTA, CABI and SDC. Participants were drawn from 12 countries from the region. The workshop was facilitated by an international team of resource persons who have been involved in IPM/ICM programmes in Asia, Africa and Central America. This team included experts from various organizations including: Benguet State University, Philippines; CAB INTERNATIONAL (Africa, Asia, Caribbean and Latin America and UK Centres); CATIE, Nicaragua; FAO, SLAC Barbados; MALMR and UWI.

The long- term objective of the workshop was to assist in the implementation of economically, environmentally and socially sustainable crop management in the Caribbean through the use of farmer participatory methods in training and research. More immediately, the workshop aimed to provide field level research and training staff, farmers and senior policy officials with an understanding of Farmer Participatory (FP) methods in ecological crop management.

Participants learned about the impact of FP methods via specific case studies and gained practical experience in their use. Particular attention was given to addressing the impediments to successful IPM/ICM implementation at the farmer interface. Participants analyzed the current situation in IPM/ICM implementation/extension in their countries and identified common strengths and weaknesses. They also assessed the potential of FP methods as a component of crop development activities and developed action plans.

Contents

Part 1 - Report of the workshop

• Overview
• The need for farmer participatory approaches
• Workshop background and objectives
• Activities
• Conclusions and recommendations
• Workshop evaluation
  

Part 2 - Country presentations

• IPM/ICM for vegetable and other crops in Antigua and Barbuda: Status, potential and problems
  J. Gore
• IPM/ICM for vegetables and other crops in Belize
  F. Magloire
• Current farmer practices in pest management and pest control practices promoted by extension in Grenada
  G. Phillip
• Prospects for the control of the paddy bug Oebalus poecilus Dallas using integrated pest management
  J. Charles
• Report for the regional workshop on farmer participatory methods for ecological crop management in Haiti
  J. Donis
• IPM/ICM for vegetables and other crops in Jamaica: Status potential and problems with particular reference to implementation
  P. Chung
• Report for the regional training workshop on farmer participatory methods for ecological crop management: St Lucia
  G. Mathurin
• Pest management in St Vincent and the Grenadines
  S. Edwards
• Integrated pest management/Integrated Crop Management for vegetables and other crops in Trinidad and Tobago: Status, potential and problems
  D. Ramroop
  

Part 3 - Annexes

• Workshop programme
• List of participants