"Microclimate control is the new frontier in tropical crop husbandry in the open field". This is the view expressed by Stevenson Skeete, a local agronomist, at one of a series of workshops held to show local farmers how to build tropical row covers or crops shields.

Tropical row covers have produced very encouraging results when tested at the Central Agronomic Research station. When hot pepper was grown under the covers in the heart of the rain season last september, the plants remained totally free of damage from bacterial spot and broad mite. The resulting yield was far superior to the yield obtained from plants in the open.

These Row covers, besides allowing farmers the full benefit of "greenhouse quality" production, are quite beneficial for reducing pesticide usage and reducing soil erosion.

So far, three training workshops have been held in southern and central locations. Farmers have participated well in the events and were given a booklet on how to build and modify the covers. One remaining session will be held at Greenland Agricultural Station on Thursday June 7th, for farmers in the northern section of the island.  

The workshops are being held within the framework of the Sustainable Land Management Project. The Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment are jointly conducting activities of the project.

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