Field Update: Sweet Potato Pest Control Trials Underway in St. Vincent

Managing soil pests is key to securing healthy yields and high-quality sweet potatoes. CARDI St. Vincent has initiated the International Trade Centre (ITC) Sweet Potato Grub Control Experiment on Ashton Gibson’s farm at Queen Drive.

Executed with technical support from Ministry of Agriculture Extension Officer Isaac Yearwood, the field trial is designed to evaluate effective pest management options for local growers.

Experiment Details:

• Plot Setup: Land preparation was completed and plots measuring 9 feet by 15 feet were lined out.
• Treatments: Four distinct treatments (including organic pesticide, inorganic pesticide, and control) are being tested, with five replications per treatment.
• Planting & Application: Initial soil treatments have been applied, and plots were planted using local red vine sweet potato vines grown directly by the farmer.

Next Steps: Ongoing treatment applications will be carried out over the cropping cycle to track effectiveness.

Additionally, land preparation has commenced for a complementary Sweet Potato Weevil Trial on site. Further updates will be shared as progress is made.