CARDI, CDB launch regional project aimed at strengthening sweet potato value chain
(Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute) The Regional Sweet Potato Value Chain Enhancement and Technology Transfer project was today jointly launched by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The project is financed by the CDB to the tune of USD 600,000.00 with CARDI providing counterpart funding to the value of USD 210,000. The project will be implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with the results shared across the wider CARICOM Region.
Sweet potato is growing in prominence because of its short growth cycle, ability to adapt to a wide range of agro ecological zones and health and nutrition benefits. However, widespread production and utilisation challenges have left regional production lagging behind when compared to other regions of the world. CARDI’s Project Manager, Reginald Andall noted “That this project is designed to address the widespread challenges, producers and processors are facing in the Caribbean. The aim is unlock the potential of the sweet potato value chain to provide income and food security to the Caribbean people.”
The project is organised under three components which involves market research, including value chain analysis to gauge levels of consumer demand, potential areas for investment and defining the existing gaps in the market. Field research will validate climate-resilient varieties and genotypes, including strains that are high yielding, drought tolerant, disease resistant, and suitable for processing. In addition several communication aids will be developed to demonstrate and share knowledge on best practices in sweet potato cultivation, processing and value addition. An integral component of the project is the provision of training on new technologies for farmers, agro-processors, and other stakeholders.
Read more at: Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute
Source: CARICOM TODAY