IICA and UWI Promote Strategy to Support Sustainable Soil Management in the OECS

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ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Jan 07 2016 – Seventeen public technicians (including technicians from the areas of agronomy, land use, engineering, laboratory, and extension services) as well as representatives from the 4-H movements of Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Kitts and Nevis met here recently to develop technical capacities to facilitate the development of a promotional strategy that will enable the national authorities of those countries to achieve their soil and land restoration objectives.

Within the framework of the Flagship Project entitled Resilience and Comprehensive Management of Environmental Risks for Agricultural Production, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) organised the four-day workshop in collaboration with the Department of Food Production – Soil Science, University of the West Indies (UWI).

The effects of climate change on agricultural production and natural resources in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) are evidenced by recent extreme environmental events with significant negative impacts on the economies.

The training course promoted the use of sustainable soil management (SSM) approaches and highlighted the importance of the chemical, biological and physical functions of the soil, particularly in relation to organic matter management for facilitating water availability. The course also provided improved vegetation cover and conservation techniques that contribute to improving agricultural productivity, strengthening resilience and enhancing rural livelihoods.