Report on the national agricultural research system of St. Lucia

Abstract

In its Draft Sector Paper for the National Plan 1986-1991, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Lands, Fisheries, and Co-operatives (MDA) has set its primary national goals in agriculture as follows: improved nutrition for the population; increased and improved local substitutes for certain (imported) agricultural products; increased export of high quality agricultural produce, and; ensured longterm (soil and water) conservation. The expressed policies to reach these goals directly involve, or can greatly benefit from, agricultural technology development on the island. This has particular relevance to the Ministry's stated actions aimed at: improvement in efficiency of production of selected crops for export and local consumption; consolidation and expansion of the orchard (tree) crop diversification; consolidation and expansion of livestock production (mainly for achieving and maintaining self sufficiency); efficient land utilization; soil and water conservation, and agro-processing.