A complex of viruses is currently impacting sweet potato crops in Barbados, resulting in reduced yields and an increase in market prices during the holiday season. The Ministry of Agriculture is exploring solutions to mitigate the situation, acknowledging the time required for implementation.
Ron Hope, farm manager at Valley Island Farms, highlighted an island-wide shortage of sweet potatoes due to production challenges. The disruption has led to a significant price increase, with sweet potatoes now costing up to $7 per pound. The viruses have notably affected Edgecumbe Plantation and Armag Farms, major producers in St Philip, with yields drastically reduced. For instance, a 10-acre field that typically produces 50,000 pounds of sweet potatoes now yields merely 5,000 pounds.
Hope noted the older C104 variety is the most affected, with newer varieties like "look-a-like" and "carrot" (CB32/CB48) also suffering but to a lesser extent. The viruses have necessitated increased fertilizer use to maintain yields, with production costs rising as a result. Sweet potatoes now require longer periods to mature, further complicating production.
Despite these challenges, Hope is making efforts to keep prices reasonable, although adverse weather conditions have forced a shift from mechanical to manual harvesting, increasing costs. He suggested that a national campaign to promote acceptance of different sweet potato varieties could help.
Michael James, Acting Chief Agricultural Officer, mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture is assisting farmers by producing virus-free planting material through tissue culture. This initiative aims to reduce the disease burden and improve yields, though scaling up to meet demand will take time. James also encouraged farmers to multiply clean planting material and suggested that commercial growers consider producing slips for wider distribution.
Source: Barbados Today