CARDI Partners with CIRAD and Ministry of Agriculture to Tackle Yam Shortage in Saint Lucia

On August 7th, 2026, the CARDI Saint Lucia Unit received an important shipment to help address the ongoing scarcity of yams and yam planting material across the island.

Working in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, CARDI imported 60 tissue culture plants representing six hybrid yam varieties from the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) in France and Guadeloupe.

Project Breakdown:

• Targeting Supply Challenges: Stakeholders across Saint Lucia, including farmers, Massy Stores, and the Saint Lucia Marketing Board, have faced consistent shortages of local yams and planting stock.
• Lab Multiplication: CARDI Country Representative Dr. Andre Barry Innocent collected the FedEx Express shipment and delivered the plants to the Ministry’s Tissue Culture Lab, where they will be systematically multiplied under controlled conditions.
• Natural Breeding: These tissue culture plantlets are derived entirely from natural plant breeding programs and are non-GMO.

Once the multiplied plantlets mature, they will be distributed to local farmers to establish clean, reliable planting material and secure long-term yam supply for Saint Lucia.