A significant capacity-building initiative is underway across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with hundreds of agricultural professionals embarking on an intensive six-week training program focused on advanced crop protection. This collaborative effort, which launched on January 26, 2025, represents a strategic partnership between the CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the non-profit organization COLEAD, which specializes in sustainable agriculture.
The program employs a flexible online learning format designed to accommodate working professionals. It specifically targets farm managers, horticulturalists, production supervisors, nursery operators, and other key stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. The curriculum is structured to address critical challenges facing CARICOM member states, particularly those related to pest management, disease control, and meeting international sanitary standards.
Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager for Agriculture at the CARICOM Secretariat, emphasized the program’s significance during opening remarks. He highlighted how effective crop protection directly influences yield quality, production costs, market accessibility, and ultimately, farmer livelihoods. The training has already attracted substantial interest, with over 300 registrations and approximately 150 participants actively engaged from the outset.
The initiative aligns with CARICOM’s ambitious ‘Vision 25 x 2025 + 5’ food security framework, which aims to reduce the region’s food import expenditure by 25% through enhanced local production and improved trade capabilities. Ansari Hosein, Executive Director of CARDI, further contextualized the training’s importance by noting the compounding challenges of climate change, pest-related crop losses, and stringent international trade requirements.
The educational program follows a progressive three-tier structure:
– Foundation Level: Introduces core principles of crop protection, pest identification, and the role of chemical controls within integrated management systems
– Intermediate Level: Examines pest biology, population dynamics, plant diseases, weed competition, and resistance issues with focus on yield optimization
– Advanced Level: Develops practical skills in pest monitoring, intervention thresholds, and strategy implementation using real-world case studies
Upon completion in March, participants will be equipped with enhanced capabilities to identify threats, implement appropriate interventions, and apply protection measures more efficiently—directly contributing to the region’s food sovereignty and economic resilience.