This is to certify that on Tuesday 15th March 2016, 20 farmers,

3 Northeast officers, Mrs. A. Seraphine-Alexander (Produce Chemist), Ms. R. Hill (PPQ), Ms. T. Laudat, Mr. K. Williams, Mr. F. Leslie (Technical Officer, Extension), 3 Northeast Staff (R. St.Rose, F. Magloire, C. Toulon) participated in a Irish/White Potato Harvest and Post-Harvest Workshop at the Calibishie Resource Centre from 3:00pm-5:00pm.

PROPEL personnel Dr. N. Pacquette-Anselm and Ann made brief remarks and urged farmers to take advantage of this crop and continue production despite various challenges. They noted how impressed they were with the farm visits made earlier that morning to 8 farms to witness the levels of production and technology adaptation in the Northeast.

Mr. Leslie welcomed the participants, and thanked them for their keen interest in diversification, dedication to nation-building through producing crops of national economic importance that can be locally grown, their participation at trainings, and to the Northeast Region for its’ work in White/Irish Potatoes as commenced with the Farmer Field School.

Mrs. Seraphine-Alexander alluded farmers to the proper harvesting and handling aspects of the mature crop commencing from signs of maturity and proper tuber selection. She concluded with a very concise delivery on suitable storage technologies for improved quality, shelf-life, and product price. She urged participants to be mindful of soil types, drainage, pest and diseases (especially as affects storage), and ensure that minimum damage is rendered to the crop during harvesting operations.

Ms. Laudat outlined the basics that producers should be mindful of as relates seed storage (selection of healthy seeds/small/‘marbles’ or ‘reject’ potatoes, keeping them dry, well-ventillated, kept in dark for a period of 3 months at the minimum in cool temperatures). She re-enforced Mrs. Seraphine-Alexander’s concern for handling practices and proper selection of seeds in this regard.

Mrs. Lilian Marcellin, a Northeast farmer who was part of the Jamaica Irish/White Potato Study Tour (February 1-5 2016) gave a brief report summary of her experiences and noted key differences in production technologies: (complete coverage vs gradual moulding of crop, pre-sprouting vs direct planting without germination, crop nutrition, support for Irish Potato Producers through farmer groups and associations, top-killing).

GIS interviewed the team leader Mr. R. St. Rose, Mr. C. Toulon (officer for Bense and Calibishie), and 2 Calibishie Irish Potato farmers (Mr. Stephen John and Mr. Deles Warrington) to get first-hand comments on production in the area. Mr. Albert also requested to come in to do some video footage of harvesting and storage at a time convenient to the farmers – including weekends.

The workshop was very timely as farmers have already commenced harvesting their produce. Many have noted some level of loss varying with variety and soils. Most of the losses have been attributed to rains. 

An Irish Potato Post-Mortem Workshop/Meeting has been scheduled for April 21st 2016 at 3:00pm on the farm holding of Mrs. Rosie St. John-Francis in Savanne Paille, Calibishie. This post-mortem aims to review the production season pros and cons with hopes of making the next season better. This is the 2nd time farmers are cultivating Irish Potatoes in the Northeast on this scale since its’ “inaugural” introduction 2 years ago through a FFS at the Bense Primary School and Bense Resource Centre.

Agriculturally Expendably yours,

……………………………..

C. Toulon

Agriucltural Officer 111 (AO111)

Northeast Agricultural Region