FAO brings practical irrigation and fertigation training closer to farmers across Saint Lucia

Regional sessions in Soufrière and Union combined classroom learning with field

demonstrations to strengthen climate-smart vegetable production

– Farmers, extension officers and agricultural professionals from the North and South regions in Saint Lucia have strengthened their practical skills in irrigation, fertigation and crop nutrition through two regional training sessions delivered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development.

Held on 9 June 2026 at the Extension Office in Soufrière and on 10 June 2026 at the Forestry Conference Room in Union, the training “Practical Integrated Crop Management: Improving Crop Performance through Irrigation, Fertigation and Nutrient Management”, brought together 38 participants, including farmers, nursery operators, agricultural officers, extension personnel, technical specialists, Ministry support staff and representatives of the public and private sectors. Delivering the training in both the north and south of the island made it more accessible to participants while providing opportunities to explore how irrigation and fertigation practices can be adapted to the diverse production conditions across Saint Lucia.

During the sessions led by Mr. Marcko Theodoracopoulos, FAO Horticulture Specialist and Anne Desrochers, Plant Production and Protection Specialist, participants explored the relationship between irrigation, fertigation, crop nutrition, plant growth stages and field conditions, and how these factors should be integrated into day-to-day farm management. They received practical instruction on the design, operation and maintenance of drip irrigation systems, including filtration, flushing, leak prevention and the management of water flow and pressure.

Special emphasis was placed on managing irrigation systems in hilly and uneven terrain of Saint Lucia where elevation changes can affect water pressure and the uniform distribution of water and nutrients. Participants also discussed how field layout, water source location and available pressure should influence system design and operation to maximize efficiency.

The practical sessions also covered the installation and calibration of Venturi fertilizer injectors, fertilizer preparation and injection rates. Participants learned how to prevent system blockages, prepare separate stock solutions, and use electrical conductivity and pH measurements to guide fertigation and minimize crop stress. Hands-on demonstrations enabled participants to observe irrigation and fertigation systems under real farming conditions, troubleshoot common challenges and consider how the technologies could be adapted to their own farms and the project's demonstration sites.

Ms. Anne Desrochers, FAO Plant Production and Protection Specialist and Lead Technical Officer for the project, highlighted the value of bringing practical training directly to farmers in both regions. She stated, “Delivering the training in the North and South allowed participants to relate the technical information directly to the conditions they manage on their farms.

Irrigation and fertigation systems must be adapted to each site, particularly where terrain, water access and pressure vary. Strengthening farmers’ and extension officers’ capacity to make these adjustments is essential for ensuring that the technologies provided through the project are used effectively and sustainably.”

Local farmer Mr. Erbert Lionel who attended the training in Soufrière, south of Saint Lucia described the training session as both interesting and valuable, noting that the training had broadened farmers’ understanding of how fertilization and irrigation work together to improve crop performance. “On behalf of the farmers, I would like to sincerely thank FAO for helping us better understand these practices and how to combine them to achieve better results,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson Emillaire, a farmer from northern Saint Lucia who participated in the training session in Union, described the workshop as both informative and practical, noting that it reinforced existing knowledge while introducing valuable new insights. “We really appreciate the knowledge provided during the session. Even where some of the topics were familiar, it was helpful to revisit them, and we would welcome more training as the project progresses,” he

said.

The training formed part of a wider FAO technical mission undertaken in Saint Lucia from 8 to 12 June 2026. During the mission, the FAO technical team and Ministry counterparts visited beneficiary farms to assess progress with land and greenhouse preparation, water access, irrigation requirements and the installation of the project’s technological packages. Beneficiary farmers received one-on-one guidance on bed layout, contour alignment, drainage, water flow and pressure, and the placement of irrigation mainlines and driplines. The visits helped identify the specific adjustments, materials and preparatory actions required at each site before installation works proceed.

The mission also included a visit to the recently refurbished biological control laboratory commissioned under the same project, which is expected to strengthen Saint Lucia’s capacity to produce and use biological control agents as part of broader efforts to enhance integrated pest management and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. Through continued practical training, the introduction of appropriate technologies and sustained field-level support to farmers and national institutions, FAO remains committed to working with the Government of Saint Lucia to advance climate-smart and sustainable crop production.