Small-scale farmers in St. Kitts and Nevis are stepping into the future of agriculture with digital sensor technology, thanks to a hands-on training session jointly hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Marine Resources and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The workshop, designed to improve crop management and boost productivity, concluded recently at the Department of Agriculture.
Nineteen participants, including local farmers and government officials, received practical training on using advanced digital sensors to enhance both protected and open-field farming systems. The initiative is part of the broader FAO project, Strengthening Protected Agriculture to Improve People’s Livelihoods, Food, and Nutrition Security, which aims to promote innovative farming practices across the twin-island nation.
Empowering Farmers with Technology
The training covered essential aspects of sensor application, including setting up hardware, activating sensors, and utilising software platforms to monitor and analyse farm data. Participants learned how soil, water, and environmental sensors provide real-time information on critical parameters such as soil moisture, nutrient levels, and environmental conditions, empowering them to make informed, timely decisions.
Tonisha Weekes, the project focal point in the Ministry of Agriculture, underscored the importance of the initiative. “The Ministry is pleased to obtain technical support from the FAO for this timely training on digital tools to improve vegetable production in protected cultivation systems. I hope these precision agriculture tools will be widely adopted on farms following this intervention,” she stated.
Precision Tools for Greater Efficiency
Melvin Medina Navarro, FAO’s Lead Technical Officer and workshop trainer, highlighted the transformative potential of digital sensors. “These tools allow farmers to better understand crop performance by monitoring parameters that directly affect yield, enabling them to make timely, data-driven decisions,” he explained.
For example, soil sensors can measure humidity levels, enabling precise irrigation management to conserve water and minimise waste. Environmental sensors track a wide range of real-time parameters, while cloud-based storage ensures farmers can review historical data, identify trends, and optimise farming practices.
Real-World Benefits for Farmers
Hydroponic farmer Richard Paris, a participant from Nevis, shared his experience: “The training was invaluable. These sensors allow me to monitor soil, water, and environmental conditions efficiently. I can now track data on water quality, temperature, and pH in real time, and the cloud-based storage means I can analyse these conditions over time to improve my crop yields.”
The workshop combined classroom learning with practical outdoor sessions. FAO’s National Project Coordinator of Digital Agriculture, Laurence Francis, led on-site demonstrations, while Juan Garcia, Head of Product at Iyris, delivered virtual training from the United Arab Emirates.
Building a Sustainable Future
As part of the project, two farmers were provided with digital sensors to pilot the technology on their farms. This pilot phase marks the beginning of a broader rollout, with additional farmers in St. Kitts and Nevis set to receive similar equipment in the coming months.
This initiative reflects the nation’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, equipping farmers with innovative, low-cost technologies to cultivate high-value crops year-round. By leveraging these tools, St. Kitts and Nevis is poised to strengthen food security, enhance livelihoods, and contribute to a resilient agricultural sector.
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