TODAY I’M STAYING on what I hope is safe ground – reporting on innovative projects presented at the Barbados Association of Technologists in Agriculture’s (BSTA) annual technical conference held on March 12. The theme was Using Technology To Enhance Agriculture.
We can’t continue doing things the way we always did, and according to the Productivity Council, innovation is being presented as “a hope for the future” and “the factor that could enhance the country’s competitiveness”.
At the conference, there were two presentations on renewable energy, an innovation seen as critical to an increase in our GDP. It’s also claimed that renewable energy and farming are a winning combination.
About 18 months ago, Gale’s Hatcheries/Agro-products in St Philip installed a Clean Plant solar energy system to reduce their reliance on fossil fuel and save on electricity costs. Despite the decrease in oil prices, they are seeing benefits. Of course, oil prices are outside our control so there’s no guarantee they’ll remain at the present level.
Viking Heat Engines Caribbean Inc. described some of the renewable energy work they are doing in Barbados in the areas of waste heat recovery and biomass, towards the creation of a “green future”.
It’s no secret that praedial larceny remains one of the greatest disincentives to farming. Little attention has been paid to it from a legislative point of view, so farmers are continually seeking solutions.
The use of drones fitted with cameras as a surveillance measure was demonstrated by Caribbean Aerial Photography. Drones with thermal sensors and imaging capability can also be used to detect disease, insect pests, drought and other problems in field crops. In fact, agriculture is predicted to be one of the major industries to incorporate drones in the short term (www.dronelife.com) and they are set to give global farming a makeover (www.theguardian.com).
However, Government has announced plans to regulate them to prevent their misuse. It will reportedly introduce a legislative framework that will require, among other things, the registration of all drones in Barbados with the appropriate authorities . . . .
Hopefully, these authorities won’t lag in producing regulations they deem necessary to ensure safe use of these vehicles, which appear as if they could be the answer to farmers’ prayers.
Water scarcity is a major concern worldwide. Both aquaponics and recirculating hydroponic systems reduce water use in crop production.
Aquaponics grows fish and plants together in one integrated system. The fish waste provides food for the growing plants and the plants purify the water for the fish. Archer’s Organics described its aquaponics system, which successfully produces a number of exotic salad greens and herbs mainly for the hotel industry. The company also sells systems to other farmers/homeowners.
The use of vertical stacked hydroponic systems was demonstrated by ARC Irrigation, who service a number of farms, golf courses and residential properties.
Farmers need quick identification of problems and reliable recommendations for treatment. The Ministry of Agriculture is currently producing a crop management computer application that would allow farmers to use their smartphones to receive this information “on the spot”. Progress with the work was demonstrated to conference participants.
Weather obviously plays an important part in farming. Weather forecasting is useful in helping farmers decide on planting, spraying and harvesting times. The Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology shared their plan to supply timely, long range information to assist with planning in the agricultural sector.
Farmers are always seeking to reduce production costs. Crop mechanisation is one such method. Manor Farms in St Thomas has imported a sweet potato planter, which is currently being tested under local conditions. Progress was reported.
Finally, the link between agriculture, the environment, heritage and tourism was demonstrated by the Walkers Reserve project in St Andrew, where the transformation from “active sand quarry to vibrant beach-side forest” is under way.
Windswept dunes are being replaced by sheltered wetlands to form a sanctuary for migratory birds. Hopefully, this ecosystem will rejuvenate food security, food culture and agro-ecological diversity by knitting the surrounding landscape and social systems together.
