The INTERREG-DEVAG project: a regional network for the development of agroecological cropping systems for horticultural crops in the Caribbean

(1)

The INTERREG-DEVAG project: a regional network for the development of agroecological

cropping systems for horticultural crops in the Caribbean.

Paula Fernandes(1)_{, Liliam Otero Pujol}(4)_{, Elda Cristina Padron Cespedes}(3)_{, Carlos Mazorra Calero}(5)_{, Emmanuel Prophète}(6)_{, Stéphanie de Lacroix}(7)_{, Christian Lavigne}(1)_{, Marie Eunide Alphonse}(6)_{, Jorge Rolando Cueto Rodriguez}(4)_{, Jany}

Fernandez Delgado(3)_{, Dayami Fontes Marrero}(5)_{, Eric Chauvet}(7)_{, Gemma Arnau}(8)_{, Elizabeth Pena Turruellas}(3)_{, Mirtha Borges}(4)_{, Yohanka Lezcano Mas}(5)_{, Denis Filloux}(2)_{, Nicolas Carvil}(10)_{, Mayte Pinon Gomez}(3)_{, Gladys del Vallin Borrego}(4)_,

Ludovic Temple(9)_{, Hervé Duchaufour}(6, 10)_{, Mercedes Crux Borruel}(3)_{, Beatrice Rhino}(1)_{, Christian Langlais}(1)_{, Peninna Deberdt}(1)_{, Sire Diédhiou}(1)_{, Richard Dick}(11)_{, Alain Ratnadass}(1)_{, Magalie Jannoyer}(1)_{, Eric Malézieux}(1)_.

CIRAD (Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement) – (1) UPR [email protected]; (2) UMR BGPI ; (8) UPR 75 ; (9) UMR Innovation (3) IIHLD (Instituto de Investigaciones en Hortalizas ‘Liliana Dimitrova’), Quivican, Cuba

(4) IIFT (Instituto de Investigaciones en Fruticultura Tropical), La Habana, Cuba

(5) UNICA (Universidad de Ciego de Avila ‘Maximo Gomez Baez’), Facultad de Agronomia, Ciego de Avila, Cuba (6) MARNDR (Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Ressources Naturelles et du Développement Rural), Port-au-Prince, Haïti (7) SECI (Station d’Essais en Cultures Irriguées), Conseil Général, Ste Anne, Martinique

(10) FAMV (Faculté d’Agronomie et de Médecine Vétérinaire), Port-au-Prince, Haïti (11) OSU (Ohio State University), Colombus, USA

Context of horticultural crops in the Caribbean :

•Need to increase local production and reduce the negative impacts of agriculture

•Main target of the social demand to get access to safe, healthy and environmentally

friendly products

•An important source of income for small farmers

•Still requiring highly intensive chemical inputs due to strong biotic (bacteria, viruses,

insects, weeds...) and abiotic constraints (heat, humidity).

Necessity to consider a radical change in production methods by

valorizing biological resources already present in these fragile but rich ecosystems

Research partners and main experimental areas

CUBA IIHLD, IIFT, UNICA

Ohio State University UMR BPGI UMR Innovation UMR PVBMT UR 103 Experimental area

Caribbean Agroecology Networking Symposium

"Productive Agrosystems and Resources Conservation in an Island Environment: an Agroecological Challenge for Caribbean Sustainable Development“

47

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_{Annual Scientific Meeting of the Caribbean Food Crops Society, Lloyd}

Erskine Sandiford Centre, Bridgetown, Barbados, July 3-9, 2011

Centre Antilles Guyane

The CAN Symposium is sponsored by the following partners

http://devag.tropical-agroecology.org/

Partner teams from overseas

Selling fruits and vegetables in Port-au-Prince streets(P Fernandes)

Preparing pasture in an orchard in Cuba with C Mazorra(P Fernandes)

Organic vegetables in Cuba

(P Fernandes)

ecosystems

The objectives of the DEVAG project:

to develop scientific databases to accelerate the development of agro-ecological and organic horticultural productions

to create a regional network dedicated to the development of agroecology for fruits and vegetables in the Caribbean.

To do so, research activities are mainly focused on finding agroecological methods to manage pests, diseases and weeds which represent the main cause of loss of productivity and of pesticides use. These researches are conducted in permanent connection with farmers and agricultural development agents who will benefit directly by participating in field experiments and technical schools.

MARTINIQUE CIRAD/PRAM

SECI GUADELOUPE

CIRAD

Home garden in Jacmel , Haiti(P Fernandes)

Genetic improvement of yams (G Arnau)

Production of entomopathogenous fungi in a CREE in Cuba (P Fernandes)

Figure 1 : Context, genesis and study cases running in the DEVAG project (oct 2009 - oct 2013)

HAITI MARNDR

FAMV French Embassy

Searching interesting native species with L Otero and C Lavigne (G Vitte)

Cuba Haïti Martinique Cuba Haïti Martinique Cuba Haïti Tomato orchards Yam tomato orchards

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Underdevelopment of agroecological and organic farms despite an increasing demand from consumers for safe and

environmentally friendly horticultural products.

Main production brakes

of targeted crops :

tomato , yam, orchards

Pests, diseases, viruses, weeds

Access and/or cost of imported inputs

Main brakes at

institutional and

organizational levels

Lack of recommended agroecological practices adapted

to local conditions and constraints

Weakness of links between research,

extension and production to stimulate

the emergence of adoptable innovation

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Insufficient knowledge on

institutional, organizational and

socio-economical environment

Main brakes at

farm level

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Identifying and

valorizing existing

knowledge

Acknowledgements to DEVAG’s sponsors and partners

Haïti Cuba receiving participants from the 3 other islands Cuba Martinique Martinique Cuba Cuba Guadeloupe Haïti Martinique Targets : TYLCV and Ralstonia

solanacearumfor

tomato anthracnosis and

viruses for yam

Targets Bemisia tabaci, Helicoverpa zea, Ralstonia solanacearum/ tomato weeds in orchards Green manures, cover crops, local composts and animal residues for

tomato and orchards

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Selection of genotypes for : -Resistance to targets -Adaptation to low input systems and organic fertilization Management of targets by introduction of : - service plants - biological products - animals