Farmer Field School Week 4: Site Selection, Soil Management, and Seed Germination Strategies

On Wednesday, 23 September 2026, CARDI Saint Lucia held Week 4 of the World Vegetable Center-supported Farmer Field School, continuing its structured training program for local tomato growers and technical officers.

The session was facilitated by Mr. Greg Mitchell, Agronomist and Soils Lab Technician with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Research & Development Division, who led comprehensive lectures and field discussions on establishing healthy plant starts.

Attendance & Collaboration:
A total of 21 stakeholders participated in the session, including 12 local farmers (featuring 3 female producers), 4 agriculture students and 1 teacher from the Agricultural College (TVET), 4 technicians from the MOA Research & Development Division, 2 Extension Officers, and 2 CARDI technical staff members.

Core Topics Covered:

• Site Selection & Soil Mediums: Choosing optimal nursery setups and preparing suitable growing media.
• Environmental & Water Management: Regulating temperature, shade, and watering routines to support young plants.
• Soil Biology & Pest Control: Identifying soil-borne organisms and managing potential pest threats early in the crop cycle.
• Optimizing Germination: Analyzing common reasons for seed germination failure, troubleshooting field issues, and implementing proven techniques to increase seedling success rates.

By building technical capacity across students, farmers, and extension personnel, the initiative continues to strengthen Saint Lucia’s capacity for climate-resilient vegetable production.