Technical Publications: CROPS

Cassava has been regarded as a rugged crop which is tolerant to many pests and diseases, weeds, poor soils and is grown mostly by subsistence farmers. 

The ackee, also known as ankye, achee, akee, ackee apple or ayee (Blighia sapida) is a fruit of the Sapindaceae soapberry family, as are the lychee and the longan.

For many decades, the quality of Jamaican peeled dried ginger has remained the best in the world, commanding the highest prices. The industry has the potential to earn US$ 964,000 and generate J$ 32 million income to farmers. However, a new disease, low production and high prices threaten to destroy this.

The A-Frame is used to identify points at the same level or elevation. These points can be joined to form an imaginery line joining points at the same elevation above sea level.

There are seven vital steps to hot pepper production. Unless growers become fully acquainted with these and put them into practice, optimum fruit quality and yields will not be realized.

Soil solarization is a pest and disease control technique that uses the radiant heat from the sun to eliminate many soilborne pathogens.

Red sorrel is a leafy herb that grows low to the ground with slender stems. It has bright lime-green leaves with dark maroon stems and veins that run the entirety of the leaf.

Vermiculture is a simple and cheap way to produce a continuous supply of organic compost of high quality.

Yam tubers are often affected by a dry rot in the skin. Jamaican farmers call this condition “burn” or “burning”, and they give various explanations for its cause. 

Many measures have been proposed to minimize soil erosion problems on sloping land. The use of vegetative/ live barriers grown on the contour is receiving much attention as a system for the management of hillsides.