Sustainable soil and water management for smallholder farms - Ramgopaul Roop & Seunarine Persad, Agricultural Development Consultant with the Trinidad and Tobago Agri-Business Association (TTABA), Trinidad and Tobago
Sustainable soil and water management for smallholder farms - Ramgopaul Roop & Seunarine Persad, Agricultural Development Consultant with the Trinidad and Tobago Agri-Business Association (TTABA), Trinidad and Tobago
1. Integrated Soil and Water Managementfor Sustainable AgricultureinTrinidad and Tobago RAMGOPAUL ROOP Theme1: Water availability and access 23 Nov. CTA Annual Seminar 2010 Johannesburg, South Africa
2. Agriculture in Trinidad and TobagoOverview Key crops Cocoa, Fruit Crops, Vegetables, Root crops Closure of sugar industry 0.5% GDP (2009) 100,000 employed GOTT Agro Policy(2010) Revitalise Agriculture sector Reduce food import Agriculture incentives
3. Water Management Policy in Trinidad and Tobago 2000-2010 Key Components Implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) Protection of Environmental Quality and Ecology. Water Management Framework for Agriculture Drainage, Irrigation, Livestock, Agro-Processing. Development of Institutional Capacity including Human Resources
4. Irrigation Technology and Management Potential Irrigated Acreage - 102,000 ha. Actual Irrigated Acreage – 7100ha(7%) GOTT Plans – 30,000ha (2010 – 2020) Key Constraints Water Development and Storage Competition for water Low level of Irrigation Technology Small Farm Size (90% of farms <5ha.) Sloping lands and difficult soils
6. Innovative Soil and Water Management Model. ROOP Project 1994-2010 Integrated Soil and Water Programme Soil amelioration Micro-irrigation including fertigation IPM Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production Demonstration farm Farmers Agriculture students.
7. FIX THE SOIL AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FARM Integrated farming system GOOGLE MAP OF FARM FARM LAYOUT
8. ConclusionAction Plan for S&W Management Infrastructure Development Drainage and Irrigation Expansion of small farm sector 7000 new small farms Utilisation of 40,000 ha former sugarcane lands Research and Development Irrigation efficiency, on-farm irrigation, Flood Control Water Quality Integrity
