Farmers and extension officers across the island benefited from a two-day introductory workshop on greenhouse gas emission (GHG) in crop production and data collection tools. The workshop aimed at introducing participants to key data requirements in the analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, while also facilitating discussions around the challenges in the agricultural sector as it relates to GHG emissions tracking and reporting.
The two-day training workshop was a joint collaboration between the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, which has partnered with the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement Reporting & Verification (CCMRV) Hub to implement the Climate Impact and Data Enhancement Project. It also falls under the second phase of the “Enhancement of the Efficiency of Production-Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector Project”, commonly known as the “Seven Crops Project”, which runs from 2022 to 2026.
The Climate Impact and Data Enhancement Project aims to strengthen the analysis of greenhouse gas emissions within Saint Lucia’s agricultural sector, supporting national and international climate transparency commitments.
The workshop was facilitated by two representatives from the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement Reporting & Verification (CCMRV) Hub, namely Ms. Benise Joseph, Deputy Director, and Ms. Kavita Gunness, Programme Associate.
The first workshop was held in the Union Orchid Gardens conference room on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, while the second was held in the National Skills Development Centre’s Vieux Fort location on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
During the sessions, the following outcomes were recorded: interactive engagement among the key stakeholders, namely farmers, extension officers, and policymakers; promoting of awareness of data gaps and opportunities; encouraging more robust and consistent data collection and sharing practices; and fostering better communication and coordination across the agricultural sector to support climate action.
During his remarks at the workshop, Mr. Daniel Lee, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, said the Seven Crops Project, which was first launched in 2019 and extended in 2022, continues to enhance crop production efficiency, improve supply chain performance, and build climate resilience. In the face of increasingly severe climate challenges, he said the goal is to not only transfer technology, but to also help Saint Lucia develop a self-sustaining and adaptive agricultural system.
Under the Seven Crops Project, climate-smart agriculture has been promoted through the following technological applications Introduction of climate-resilient crop varieties and demonstration trials, Promotion of grafting techniques and protected cultivation, and the Introduction of ICT and the iFarm platform.
Lee said the project supports Saint Lucia in fulfilling its commitments under the Paris Agreement and its Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (SASAP) for agriculture. It also seeks to establish a scalable and replicable model to strengthen the Ministry’s leadership in policy-making, implementation, and international alignment.
Dr. Randel Esnard, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, thanked the Taiwan Technical Mission for its continued support and for continuing to be instrumental in driving forward Saint Lucia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Dr. Esnard noted that Saint Lucia’s agricultural sector in Saint — although valuable in terms of food security — is also very vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as droughts, intense rainfall, and soil degradation. However, he said accurate data collection and reporting is needed to make informed decisions.
Meanwhile, Ms. Benise Joseph, Deputy Director of the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement Reporting & Verification (CCMRV) Hub, thanked the Taiwan Technical Mission and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, for their commitment to support such an important initiative.
Joseph said the project is about understanding how farming affects the climate, and how the changing climate is affecting farming. Without reliable data, she said it would be impossible to make informed decisions, identify real solutions, or properly track progress toward national climate goals.
Other officials in attendance at the training workshop included Mr. Hugo Lo, Senior Specialist at the Taiwan Technical Mission; Mr. Johnson Yang, Senior Production Specialist at the Taiwan Technical Mission; Mr. Edward Wilson, Technical Production Officer for the Seven Crops Project; and Ms. Kaymer Propheth, Assistant Project Coordinator of the Seven Crops Project.