Puran Bridgemohan

Integrated Weed Management Practices for Adoption in the Tropics

These sustainable farming methods have been described in pejorative terms as drudgery, laborious, and inefficient. Many have been rejected and new technologies and other high energy based inputs have been embraced. These technologies are costly and heavily foreignexchange dependent. They also disturb the delicate ecological balance resulting in increased occurrence of pests and diseases, shift in noxious weed populations, soil erosion and pollution of the air and water resources.

Exploring the Barriers and Opportunities to the Development of Farmers’ Groups in Selected Caribbean Countries

Farmers’ groups are being targeted as an important sector to hasten Caribbean agricultural development. The region however, has a recorded history of high levels of failure with farmers’ group development; many are formed but few are sustained to contribute meaningfully to agricultural development. A focus group assessment was conducted with extension officers from St. Vincent, Grenada and Trinidad, three neighbouring independent islands in the Southern Caribbean, to identify the issues related to the failures of farmers’ groups and the actions critically needed for success. The main issues that limit group development include poor leadership, weak task cohesion and low levels of farmer motivation and lack of trust. There was consensus among the participants that improved group dynamics, good governance, increased government involvement and improved farmer motivation can impact the formation, functioning and survivability of farmers’ groups. The findings help extension officers and policy makers to plan interventions that can promote the successful organization of farmers into groups, a key pre-requisite to meet regional agricultural development goals.

Enhancement of flavor and analyte balance of freeze-dried coconut water

There is a high incidence of gastro-intestinal and viral diseases after natural disasters, particularly in rural areas in third world countries. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) are used, but there is need for a better tasting substitute which has improved quality, accessibility and storage. Fresh coconut is the preferred choice, but is limited by availability, and rapid nutritional deterioration. Reconstituted powdered products have not retained the natural flavor. The production of a freeze dried ORS was developed using fresh coconut water at different maturity stages. The assessment was done in its pure form and enhanced with natural fruit flavors (mango and passion fruit). Coconut water were frozen (-30°C/ 48 h) and vacuum freeze dried (VFD) to produce rehydrated crystals. This was analyzed for its analyte contents, glucose and Brix. The atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for the mineral analysis. The results indicated that the analytes balance increased with maturity of the coconut fruits, with no differences between the fruit juices. In some mixtures, the electrolyte content was higher in the fruit juices than the coconut water. The study showed improved quality and acceptability through its taste enhancement and extended shelf-life compared to similar ORS. Key words: Analyte electrolyte, freeze-dry, oral re-hydration, flavored coconut water.

Herbicide Use and Increased Scourge of Parthenium hysterophorus in Vegetable Production in Trinidad and Tobago

This chapter highlights a survey of vegetable-producing areas to determine the occur‐ rence, distribution and importance of Parthenium hysterophorus in Trinidad. The weed can significantly reduce crop yields and quality due to its aggressive growth habit, competi‐ tiveness and allelopathic interference. Due to its invasive capacity and allelopathic prop‐ erties, Parthenium hysterophorus has the potential to disrupt the natural ecosystem and threaten the biodiversity. It is a difficult weed to manage, and a wide variety of methods, starting with prevention and containment, is necessary to reduce the incidence and spread of this weed. An integrated approach using cultural, physical, chemical and bio‐ logical techniques is necessary to be successful. Focus is made on specific herbicides cur‐ rently being used to manage this weed in vegetables. Despite the negative impact of this weed on the biodiversity, this chapter also explores the potential of the beneficial proper‐ ties of Parthenium hysterophorous as a mechanism of management.