Abstract
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has prioritized roots and tuber crops as new pillars for enhancing food and nutrition security, agricultural and economic growth, reducing the high food import bill, generating employment, as well as reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases. The cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) industry, though in its infancy, is recognized as having the potential for developing a wide range of value-added products, targeting existing and new markets. Over the past 15 years, the formation of a Regional Cassava Working Group, the establishment of the root crop tissue culture laboratory in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the demonstration of new techniques in vegetative propagation and production, has led to increased productivity in CARICOM. The up-grade of farine production facilities and the selection of suitable varieties / accessions for making farine, has increased the production and consumption of the traditional cassava bread as well as the composite bread made from 40% grated cassava. The marketing of cassava value-added products, studies on cassava macro-economic impact analysis and cassava policy development are all efforts channeled towards the sustainability of the cassava industry (value chain). Studies of the effects of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) accessions, time of planting and zones on productivity, have led to more effective production planning and taro (Colocasia esculenta) or dasheen research has added three more genotypes to the narrow gene pool. These achievements have bolstered food and nutrition security in CARICOM.
Highlights
The development of the root and tuber crops value chains in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is emerging as a key component of a strong regional and diversified economy that can generate employment, contribute to food security, promote sustainable export trade, sustain incomes and reduce the high food import bill
This paper presents the range of activities carried out by Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), FAO and other partnering and collaborating institutions / organizations for the development of the root and tuber crop industry in the
Technicians were trained in the weaning and hardening of cassava, sweet potato and taro tissue culture plantlets
Summary
The development of the root and tuber crops value chains in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is emerging as a key component of a strong regional and diversified economy that can generate employment, contribute to food security, promote sustainable export trade, sustain incomes and reduce the high food import bill. The root and tuber crops research and development programmes in the Caribbean focus on increasing the production of root and tuber crops, through the introduction of new and improved varieties, development and dissemination of improved and sustainable production technologies, value addition and product development, supported by innovative market penetration strategies. These packages of technologies are contributing to the improvement of livelihoods along the root and tuber crop value chain (Figure 1). The chain demonstrates how inputs (new / improved planting material), new improved and validated production technologies, have led to increased productivity, which in turn has created sustained supplies of root and tuber crops for fresh consumption, commercial exports and value-added products
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