Nearly forty (40) participants benefited from a two-hour workshop during which information was shared pertaining to the grafting of guava plants. The workshop was held at the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia’s demonstration farm at Union, Castries, last week.
During the workshop, extension officers, farmers, a technical team from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), agriculture students, and team members from the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia learned the basics about grafting, including its benefits and how to graft the plants.
By definition, plant grafting is an asexual propagation method where tissues from one plant (the scion) are inserted into those of another (the rootstock), so they heal and grow as a single plant. The scion is the top part of the combined plant, which provides the desired fruits, flowers, or leaves. The rootstock is the lower part and root system, which are chosen for their disease resistance and soil adaptability. Grafting enhances plant growth, enables adaptation to different soil types and climates, accelerates fruit production, improves disease resistance, improves fruit quality, and allows the creation of new plant varieties.
Mr. Johnson Yang, Senior Production Specialist at the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, facilitated the workshop and shared his many years of expertise in agriculture with participants, including best practices involved in grafting. Afterwards, participants were given samples of scion and rootstock to graft their own plants. Participants also toured the farm’s new plot of grafted guava plants, and each received a plant to take home.
One of the participants, Ms. Michelle Herman, described the workshop as being very beneficial.
“To have an opportunity to help us build our farms for free was such an amazing gift, and I thank the Taiwan Technical Mission for it,” she said. “This workshop was very hands-on, which enabled everyone the ability to take part. So if you are not a note-taker, then this was for you.”
Ms. Herman also praised Mr. Yang’s method of delivering the information: “Our tutor was excellent in patience, and his passion for his skills and abilities was definitely transmitted to us as a group that kept every minute lively. We got one-on-one teaching, which definitely took out any concerns or lack of confidence being able to do it on your own. Getting to move around the farm to see the grafted plants in different stages helped solidify what we were doing and how much we can take confidence in what we learned in practice.”
Mr. Edward Wilson, Production Officer with the Seven Crops Project at the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, said the workshop was necessary, as many farmers still lack basic expertise that is essential for better production levels.
With guava gaining increased market credibility, the Taiwan Technical Mission is trying to get farmers prepared for the market, which usually calls for high standards and a reliable supply of the popular fruit. Mr. Wilson said Massy Stores and the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA) are already on board as it relates to providing farmers with a ready market.
The guava grafting workshop was hosted under the “Enhancement of the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector Project (Sector Term), commonly known as the “Seven Crops Project”. The project runs from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2026, with the objective of strengthening Saint Lucia’s agricultural capacity building. Under the project, it is hoped that there will be a 25% increase in the local purchase of fruits and vegetables. The seven focal crops selected under the programme are cabbage, lettuce, tomato, bell pepper, watermelon, cantaloupe, and pineapple.