Hot Pepper Value Chain Project provides pest surveillance training for farmers to meet international standards
The Improving the Phytosanitary Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along the Hot Pepper Value Chain project is training farmers, input suppliers, nursery operators in pest surveillance to reduce the prevalence of pests as well as strengthen prevention and control measures. These actions further the intent of the project to ensure consistent supply of high-quality clean seeds that meet international standards.
The training series which rolled out earlier this month, includes sessions across five parishes – St. Elizabeth, St. Mary, Clarendon, St. Ann and St. Catherine and one virtual session. So far some 169 farmers have been engaged with 54 being female participants.
The series have enabled local producers to engage with inspection and regulatory bodies involved in Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) management, input suppliers, seed certification officers and extension delivery. This action aligns with project’s priority areas which include enabling small-scale producers’ equitable access to resources, such as access to extension, information, services and training.
The project partnered with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining through the Rural Agriculture Development Authority and the Plant Quarantine and Produce Inspection (PQPI) Branch as well as local input suppliers. This, in an effort to increase the capacity of stakeholders to adopt standards along the hot pepper value chain, increase the production of hot peppers and increase the export potential and market access opportunities for the sector.
For the benefit of the local producers and processors, PQPI increased awareness of their role as plant produce export and import regulator and information on pests of significance in the exportation of hot peppers and planting materials. This segment detailed reasons for refusal of peppers fresh and processed) into international markets. Input suppliers presented on disease prevention and management including specification of products most effective in combatting various pests affecting hot pepper.
A crucial part of the training experience emphasised seed certification and also featured classroom sessions as well as field exercises on pest identification, surveillance and management.
The Improving the Phytosanitary Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along the Hot Pepper Value Chain project is funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility and implemented by FAO in close collaboration with the Bureau of Standards, Jamaica and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.