CARDI hosts workshop on Market Intelligence as Strategy to better manage Climatic Variability Risks

By Michelle Nurse Last updated May 29, 2019

(Photo via (OECS)

The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Saint Lucia will welcome specially invited participants to a one-day workshop aimed at strengthening capacity in the agricultural sector in Saint Lucia through the examination of market trends linked to climate change, such as rainfall patterns and temperatures.

Saint Lucia is presently the pilot country for a project funded by the Japan-CARICOM Friendship and Cooperation Fund, which is aimed at using Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) as a tool towards achieving Climate Smart Agriculture.The workshop, scheduled to be held on Wednesday 29 May 2019, at the Orchid Room in Union, Castries, Saint Lucia, will work with farmers in an effort to teach them about crop scheduling to meet market demands and to avoid surplus and scarcity.As Small Island Developing States (SIDS) we contribute minimally to climate change yet suffer tremendous effects from the phenomenon. Our agricultural sector is severely affected by these changes in the environment, and with the approaching hurricane and wet season, rainfall and wind effects are likely to affect farmers’ crops and production levels. Similarly, exiting the dry season, many farmers report loss in yield as a result of some of the hottest and driest conditions occurring between March to May.