Students at the Pest Monitoring & Surveillance training at College of Agriculture, Science and Technology (CASE) ©FAO/Dainalyn Swaby

The “Improving the Phytosanitary, Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along the Hot Pepper Value Chain” project is expanding its reach by targeting tertiary-level agriculture students in Jamaica. The project conducted a training in 'Pest Monitoring & Surveillance for Hot Pepper Production' with final-year students pursuing Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Production and Food Systems Management, General Agriculture and Agricultural Education, at the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology (CASE). The training which took place on 11 April 2024 coincided with the local recognition of farmers' month.

This extension to the tertiary cohort is a strategic move by the project to broaden its impact beyond current value chain participants and engage prospective entrants in the agriculture sector. Participants gained practical experience in implementing Integrated Pest Management measures and understanding market dynamics specific to the hot pepper value chain, enhancing their readiness for future careers in agriculture.

The project has previously conducted training sessions targeting farmers, input suppliers, nursery operators, and others involved in pest surveillance. By strengthening prevention and control measures, these efforts align with the project's core priorities, including improving small-scale producers' access to essential resources such as information, and training.

 The training series executed in over five parishes, have also engaged inspection and regulatory bodies involved in Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) management, input suppliers, seed certification officers and other value chain actors. This supports the main mandate to ensure consistent supply of high-quality clean seeds that meet international standards.

 Key partners supporting these efforts include the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA), the Plant Quarantine and Produce Inspection (PQPI) Branch, and local input suppliers. Notably, the recent joint initiative between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and PQPI featured the annual Fresh Produce Exporter’s Forum, incorporating hot pepper value chain training.

Training Highlights for CASE Students:

- Learning about pest prevention, management, and safe pesticide use.

- Exploring hot pepper research and pest identification, surveillance, and management techniques.

- Understanding the role of PQPI as a regulator and identifying significant pests affecting hot pepper exportation and planting materials.

Looking ahead, the project aims to replicate these training sessions in other agriculture institutions nationwide. Through education and skill development, the project seeks to cultivate a cohort of future technical experts capable of addressing industry challenges and strengthening the agricultural sector.

 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 collaboration with the Bureau of Standards, Jamaica, and the Ministry of Agriculture,  Fisheries and Mining.