In response to declining papaya production, the Barbados Ministry of Agriculture, alongside two partner organizations, is taking steps to enhance farmer yields. The decline, attributed to the pervasive bunchy top disease, has significantly impacted the island's papaya output, internationally recognized as a superfood. Despite the challenges, the annual production stands at approximately 151,340 kilograms, with imports, primarily from Trinidad, averaging 68,496 kilograms annually.
In 2020, the ministry initiated a revitalization project focusing on disease-tolerant papaya varieties. Agricultural officer Tony Rawlins highlighted the introduction of four varieties from a Guatemalan company, aiming to assess their adaptation and resistance to bunchy top disease in Barbados. Early trials have shown promising results, particularly with the sinta and maradona varieties, noted for their disease tolerance and high fruit yield, respectively.
Support from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) is crucial in this endeavor. IICA's efforts include variety identification and farmer training, while CARDI is examining optimal tree spacing to mitigate disease spread. These collaborative efforts aim to revitalize the papaya sector, addressing both production challenges and consumer preferences for firmer, longer-lasting fruit suitable for agro-processing.
Source: Barbados Today