IICA BGNI Members Receive Training In Management Of Pests And Diseases For Successful Vegetable Production

The second in the two-part series of training for the Grenada Backyard Gardeners Network Initiative (BGNI) concluded3rd November 2021 with a virtual training on the Management of Pests and Diseases for Successful Vegetable Production in the Backyard.

Twelve backyard gardeners participated in this session, most of which were new

members of the Network. The training was conducted by Mr. Ronald O’Neale, an Agronomist with expertise in vegetable seed product development.

Participants were exposed to the common disease symptoms of vegetables, the causative agents and how diseases are spread among plants. A similar approach is applicable to pests among vegetable plants starting from the life cycle of the pests, the mode of feeding, types of damage caused by pests and how to control the pests in the garden.

The session was very interactive with exchanges between the participants and the facilitator of the training. For the control of both pests and diseases, the best approach is to prevent the infestation of the plants. This will involve using tolerant or resistant varieties, crop rotation, maintaining plant density and avoid planting in areas that are infested with pest and diseases.

It was emphasized that crop rotation is very important for the control of pests and diseases among vegetables because similar diseases and pests affect plants of the same family. For example, tomato, eggplant, and peppers are affected by the same diseases and pests;  therefore, when practicing crop rotation those crops should be alternated with plants from different families.

Post-Harvest Handling of Soursop Leaves – Manual for Soursop Propagation and Production in Grenada.

Prepared by: Lauren St. Louis National Consultant Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (TCP/GRN/3601)

1. Leaves are washed in a chlorine bath at a dosage of 1 Tablespoon per gallon of water (= 15 ml to about 4 litres of water).

2. The leaves are then left on racks to dry.

3.Once fully dry, the leaves are ground into a coarse powder and bagged into tea bags.

Care & Management of Newborn Piglets –  Provided by Chief Vet & Livestock Officer (Ag) – Dr.Dexton St.Bernard – taken from the Farmer’s Handbook on Pig Production (For the small holders at village level)

• A few minutes after the birth, the umbilical cord may be pulled gently away or cut if necessary (to about 5 cm length). After birth, the navel of each piglet should be soaked in a cup of iodine solution to prevent inflammation and tetanus. Each piglet should be rubbed carefully, dry with a cloth.

• Make sure the piglets are able to suck from the udder as soon as possible after birth. Their sucking will encourage the sow to let down her milk.

Weak piglets may need to be assisted. It is important that the piglets immediately take advantage of the first milk called colostrums. Colostrums should be taken by all the piglets on the same day they are born. If taken at this time the colostrumsis able to protect the piglets against diseases.

• After the first one or two days, the digestive system of the piglets breaks down the colostrum and its ability to protect from diseases is lost.
• The piglets can be given additional feed of goat or cow’s milk, or a mashed bean porridge to which a little sugar has been added. If the milk produced by the sow is too little to meet the needs of the piglets or the sow completely neglects the piglets, they should be put on another sow or reared on cow or goat’s milk.

CHRISTMAS RECIPE- Orange Pork Chops Provided by the GFNC

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops ¾ inch thick

• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil

• 2 large onions cut into ¼ inch thick slices

• ¼ cup each soy sauce & orange juice

• ¼ cup orange marmalade

Method

• Pat chops dry with paper towel. Brown in oil over medium heat. Transfer to baking dish.

• To drippings in pot add, onions, juice, soy sauce and marmalade and mix well over high heat.

• Pour over pork chops, cover and cook in a hot oven till chops are tender.

Planting Days: November

12^th – 13^th

Extra good for vine crops. Favourable days for planting aboveground crops.

14^th – 15^th

Seeds planted now will grow poorly and yield little.

16^th – 18^th

Fine for planting beans, peppers, cucumbers, melons, and other aboveground crops.

19^th – 20^th

Any seed planted now will tend to rot.