The Taiwan Technical Mission, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security, recently hosted a harvesting exercise and officially commissioned a new seedling nursery dedicated to the propagation of dragon fruit and grafted guava. The initiative forms part of the Enhancement of the Efficiency of Production and Distribution Supply Chain in the Fruits and Vegetables Sector Project, commonly known as the Seven Crops Project.

The project is designed to improve the production, distribution and availability of high-quality fruits and vegetables by strengthening value chains and expanding farmers' access to superior planting materials. The newly established nursery will produce healthy, high-quality seedlings that are expected to improve productivity, fruit quality and the long-term sustainability of local fruit production.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Saint Lucia, Her Excellency Nicole Su, emphasized the economic potential of the new crop varieties and their growing appeal within both domestic and tourism markets. "I am excited to witness today's harvest of dragon fruit and guava. These high-value tropical crops present excellent opportunities for farmers to diversify production and increase their income. Beyond meeting local demand, they have strong potential to serve Saint Lucia's growing tourism market. Their unique appearance and exceptional flavour offer visitors an authentic tropical experience while creating valuable new market opportunities for our farmers."

The harvesting exercise provided Government officials, agricultural stakeholders and farmers with the opportunity to observe the performance of the improved crop varieties firsthand. Participants harvested and sampled the fruits, allowing them to evaluate their quality, taste and commercial potential as Saint Lucia continues to expand its portfolio of high-value agricultural commodities.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development, Hon. Lisa Jawahir, described the initiative as another important milestone in the Government's Green Revolution, emphasizing the role of innovation and climate-smart agriculture in transforming the sector. "Dragon fruit symbolizes resilience, demonstrating how innovation and climate-smart agriculture can transform challenges into opportunities. This reflects the vision of our Green Revolution, to build a modern, resilient and profitable agricultural sector that empowers our farmers. The opening of this nursery marks another important milestone, providing quality dragon fruit and guava seedlings to help farmers diversify production, increase yields and meet the growing demand for high-value tropical crops."

The Department of Agriculture and the Taiwan Technical Mission continue to strengthen Saint Lucia's fruit and vegetable sector through improved crop varieties, farmer training and quality planting materials, advancing food security, agricultural resilience and sustainable production.