Doubling Sweet Potato Yields in Trinidad & Tobago

How can sweet potato farmers boost harvests from 20,000 lbs to over 39,000 lbs per acre while lowering production costs?

CARDI, alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, UWI, local farmer Ramdeo Boondoo, and IICA, conducted on-farm trials in Chaguanas and Princes Town to test practical, low-cost field techniques.

Key Takeaways for Farmers:

• Early Fertilization: Test your soil and apply fertilizer early (before planting and at Day 26). Getting nutrients in before tubers form doubled crop yields!
• Skip Unnecessary Additives: Timed N-P-K fertilizer works better than expensive foliar sprays, saving you money on inputs. Better Planting Material: Use fresh cuttings started from tubers and high-yielding varieties like Uncle Ben 17 or Princes Town (Orange).
• Smart Pest & Weed Management: Use a pre-emergent herbicide to stop weeds early and rotate safer bio-pesticides to keep sweet potato weevils away. Higher yields lower your cost per pound, boosting farmer profit and building a stronger supply for local agro-processors