TECHNICAL PRODUCTION OFFICER OF SEVEN CROPS PROJECT ATTENDS AI-IN-AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP IN TAIWAN.

Over the past few years, the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development in Saint Lucia have forged an increasingly beneficial partnership to strengthen the Caribbean island's agricultural sector and improve its food security.

That partnership resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that established the "Enhancement of the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector Project", commonly known as the "Seven Crops Project". The project's first phase began in January 2019 and lasted for three years, while the ongoing second phase runs from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2026.

The Project responded to Saint Lucia's high food import bill and focused on seven major heavily imported crops: bell peppers, lettuce, cantaloupes, cabbages, tomatoes, pineapples, and watermelons. Under the project, interventions are being made to reduce the importation of these crops by at least 25% by 2030 by increasing local production. A marketing component also seeks to gain market access for farmers.

In March 2025, Mr. Edward Wilson attended a two-week training workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) in Taiwan on how technology can help boost production. Taiwan is very proficient at appropriating the use of AI in agriculture. Wilson's training in Taiwan was essential because the more exposure extension officers receive to training, the better they can continue building the capacity of farmers and other Extension Officers. Saint Lucia's agricultural sector currently faces a labour shortage, which is worsened by many youths who see agriculture as unattractive.

Wilson, the Seven Crops Project's technical production officer, has been employed with the Taiwan Technical Mission for six years. He oversees production by working alongside trained specialists from Taiwan.

"We're now dealing with unprecedented issues, including intermittent rainfall, flash floods, and dry periods," Wilson said. "We can't predict some of these events because of climate change. So we must develop adaptation strategies to help build farmers' resilience and capacity, increase soil irrigation, and introduce greenhouses and composting methods to reduce the high cost of fertilizers. Our farmers face other issues, including pest and disease attacks on their crops, reduced crop yields due to inconsistent rainfall, and high temperatures."

"Since many youths use cellphones, it was determined at the Taiwan workshop that a system whereby youth farmers can monitor their crops via real-time data readings on their cellphone apps can help," Wilson added. "As a small island developing state, Saint Lucia faces many challenges adapting to technology due to its ageing farmer population. However, devising a way to marry the local climate with the technology received from Taiwan is crucial. It's something we need to implement if we are to realize the projected production levels."

Wilson believes identifying weather forecasts, soil temperature and humidity, and knowing what to plant and when would be huge pluses. The workshop in Taiwan also included discussions on how to reduce the carbon footprint by lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector.

"Right now, Taiwan is trying to go green," he said. "Farmers there receive carbon credits via incentives when they use more environmentally friendly products. This concept is very interesting and can serve Saint Lucia well soon."

So far, many strides have been made under the Seven Crops Project. To date, here are the achievements:

• Conducted new varietal trials and training sessions for cantaloupe, watermelon, and eggplant, enriching farmers' crop choices.
   
• Hosted field workshops covering passion fruit, okra, dragon fruit, plantain, pest management, cucumber, and farm management, and enhancing farmers' cultivation techniques.
   
• Improved irrigation facilities by helping farmers establish an irrigation committee, providing farmers with drip tape, offering technical guidance on drip irrigation system installation to farmers, and improving water resource utilization efficiency.
   
• Conducted training for farmers on small machinery operation and provided land preparation services, thereby reducing farmers' labour burden and improving production efficiency.
   
• Provide land preparation assistance via mechanization to over 25 acres for vegetable production.
   
• Promoted organic composting technology and helped farmers construct small compost houses, promoting environmentally friendly farming practices.
   
• Hosted quarterly sales of agricultural inputs, providing farmers access to high-quality and reasonably priced production & harvesting materials, thereby reducing production costs.
   
• Promoted good agricultural practices and production and marketing management training on crop management.
   
• Established and upgraded the iFarm agricultural information system to collect and analyze agricultural production data, assisting the government in understanding production status.
   
• Hosted Farmer's Markets and marketing events to assist farmers in directly selling their agricultural products and increasing income. Events such as the Mango Festival and Agri Expo have been particularly well-received.
   
• Conducted precision chemical analysis training sessions for the National Agricultural Diagnostic Facility (NADF), enhancing the national-level agricultural testing capabilities and ensuring product quality and safety.
   
• Collaborated with the St. Lucia Marketing Board and Massy Stores by holding HACCP and pesticide residue testing training sessions, improving food safety management standards.
   
• Hosted Agro-processing courses in soap making, fruit dehydration, jam making, pesticide testing, and developing diversified applications of agricultural products and enhancing their value.
   
• Co-organized the National Food Security Consultation event with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), gathering opinions from all sectors to jointly work towards food security in Saint Lucia.
   
• Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and jointly organized mushroom farmer training, expanding the benefits of technology promotion.

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) also sponsored another project, "Assisting the Economic Empowerment of Youth and Women in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Post-Pandemic of COVID-19," commonly known as the "Jennès Vocational Skills Training Programme". The programme was administered by Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), and it upskilled hundreds of Saint Lucian youth and women to participate positively in Saint Lucia's economy. Through the Project, a Mango Festival was held to promote the various ways the tropical fruit can be used to create nutritious dishes.

Wilson's exposure and knowledge in Taiwan have enthused him with renewed optimism that the Seven Crops Project will continue to dent Saint Lucia's food import bill. He also believes that the various agricultural methods he learned in Taiwan can positively impact Saint Lucia's agricultural landscape if implemented in Saint Lucia.