Saint Kitts & Nevis

Country Profile

Saint Kitts and Nevis The twin-island Federation of St Kitts and Nevis is a part of the Leeward Islands group covering a total land area of 269 km2 (104 mi2 -, St Kitts is 176 km2 (68 mi2) and Nevis is 93 km2 (36 mi2). The highest elevation in St Kitts is Mount Liamuiga (formerly Mount Misery), 1,156 m (3,792 ft.) on St. Kitts and the Nevis peak of 985 m (3,232 ft.). The mean annual rainfall is 1,300 mm (51.2 in). Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the St. Kitts economy until the 1970s. However, faced with a sugar industry that was finding it increasingly difficult to earn a profit, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis embarked on a programme to diversify the agricultural sector and stimulate the development of other sectors of the economy. By 1987, tourism had surpassed sugar as the major foreign exchange earner for St. Kitts and Nevis. Export-oriented manufacturing and offshore banking also assumed larger roles in the economy. The agricultural diversification programme is continuing with emphasis on crops and livestock such hot pepper, white and sweet potato, vegetables, dairy, beef, mutton, pork and poultry. Agriculture contributed 2.61% of the Gross Value Added[1] in 2006.

CARDI St. Kitts & Nevis Overview

CARDI St. Kitts and Nevis is identified mostly with research and development on vegetables and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), especially for sweet potato production and the management of invasive species. However, with the closure of the sugar industry by the Government a greater opportunity has become available for agricultural diversification. Therefore, CARDI St Kitts and Nevis has expanded its research and development portfolio to include activities on hot pepper production and undercover / protected agriculture in support of the diversification process. The Unit is also involved in livestock research and development. It is the focal point for the delivery of technical assistance to the small ruminant sub-sector by CARDI Livestock Scientists.

Work Programme for the Medium Term 2008-2010

Commodity development – Crops

Sweet potatoes

  • Introduce and evaluate varieties with pest resistance potential and high carotene content
  • Evaluate and transfer biopesticdes and trapping systems for sweet potato weevils

Hot pepper

  • Demonstrate and transfer commercial hot pepper production systems

Commodity development – Livestock

Small ruminants

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

Emerging Issues

Undercover / protected agriculture (greenhouse)

  • Evaluate and transfer technologies for growing media, crop varieties and IPM practices for vegetable production in greenhouse

Invasive species initiatives

  • Focal point for response to invasive species

Country Highlights Reports

For highlights of work by the CARDI office in St Kitts and Nevis, Click here

 

CARDI Representative

Ms Pathleen Titus

Contact Information

CARDI St Kitts & Nevis
P.O. Box 479
Fortlands
Basseterre
St Kitts & Nevis.
Phone: (869) 465-1498 / 2846
Fax: (869) 465-3285
Email: cardiskn@caribsurf.com

Partners and Collaborators

  • Ministry of Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries and Consumer Affairs, St Kitts
    P. O. Box 186
    Government Headquarters
    Basseterre
    St Kitts/Nevis
    Tel: (869) 469-5521/ 465-2521
    Email: doastk@caribsurf.com
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Co-operatives and Fisheries, Nevis
    Prospect Avenue
    Bellevue
    St Kitts/Nevis
    Tel: (869) 469-5521
  • Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) at St. Kitts and Nevis
    http://www.iica.int/Eng/regiones/caribe/sancristobal/
 

[1] Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) National Accounts Statistics 2006/07, September 2007