Farmers learn new grafting techniques through Agriculture Ministry/China Aid partnership
By Orville Williams
Farmers in the country could soon be reaping the benefits of improved crop production, following a workshop on grafting techniques at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Peasant Development Office (PDO) yesterday.
The workshop – part of the ninth Technical Training of Agricultural Technology Cooperation Project between China and Antigua and Barbuda – focused on specific grafting methods to increase durability and resilience in watermelon, primarily, but also in crops like tomatoes and cucumbers.
Describing grafting as “the most successful and effective solution to [the plant disease ‘blight’]”, Professor Xiao Shuhua used a detailed theoretical presentation to illustrate the various processes involved – noting that issues such as (recent) rainy weather conditions and land limitations, often result in the emergence of the disease.