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Commodities & Themes

  • Cereals & Grain Legumes
  • Hot Peppers
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Small Ruminants
  • Fruits & Vegetables
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Emerging Issues
  • Protected Agriculture
  • Climate Change for Agricultural Development

Saint Lucia

Country Profile

Saint Lucia, one of the Windward Islands, lies to the south of Martinique, north of St Vincent and north-west of Barbados. It covers a total land area of 616 km2 (238 mi2). The island is volcanic and mountainous, with the highest peak, Mount Gimie being 959 m (3,145 ft). The rainfall ranges from 1,524 to 3,505 mm (60 to 138 in) per annum. St. Lucia’s economy depends primarily on revenue from banana production and tourism with some input from small-scale manufacturing. The agriculture sector continues to play a major role in the economy, although its importance has declined. In 2009 agriculture contributed 5% of the GDP. However, it still accounts for a significant number of jobs, some 21% of employment. The  banana industry is still very important and the Government has continued its programme to establish a new marketing and distribution system for non-banana agriculture.  The banana industry is faced with low prices and a new, less favourable, set of rules for the European Union market has made economic diversification increasingly important. Other agricultural products of economic importance are: cocoa, coconut, citrus fruits and livestock. Efforts also include the establishment and promotion of tree crops such as mangoes and avocados; a variety of vegetables are also being produced  for local consumption. The island has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, while the manufacturing sector is developing rapidly; services accounted for 80% of GDP, while industry contributed 15% of GDP in 2009. However the country  experienced losses in agriculture and tourism as a resullt of major devastation by Hurricane Tomas in 2010.

CARDI St. Lucia Overview

CARDI St. Lucia specialises in research and development on fruit crops, including the development of post-harvest technologies for these crops. A wide variety of germplasm of fruits, as well as food crops are maintained and multiplied for farmers. The resident post-harvest technologist provides services throughout the Region. In addition, the Unit provides the focal point for the delivery of technical assistance to the small ruminant sub-sector of the island.

Work Programme

Work Programme for the Medium Term 2008-2010

Commodity development – Crops

Fruits

  • Identify and establish production germplasm of local pineapples
  • Evaluate watermelon cultivars, including shelf life studies
  • Maintain CTV tolerant varieties of citrus
  • Evaluate herbicides used in banana production

Commodity development – Livestock

Small ruminants

  • Participate in the regional small ruminant survey to collect some baseline data

Country Highlight Reports

For highlights of work by the CARDI office in St Lucia, Click here

CARDI St. Lucia Unit Brief

CARDI St Lucia BRIEF May 2012

CARDI St Lucia Unit BRIEF March 2012

CARDI St Lucia Unit BRIEF Feb2012

 

 

Contact Information

CARDI Representative

Andrea Veira – Crop Scientist  

Contact Information

CARDI St Lucia
CARDI Field Station
La Ressource
Dennery
Saint Lucia.
Phone: (758) 453-3317
Fax: (758) 453-3495
Email: (Enable Javascript to see the email address); (Enable Javascript to see the email address)

 

Country Partners

Partners and Collaborators

 
 


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