Evaluation of young fruit tree performance in hillside trials in Trinidad and Tobago.
Roberts-Nkrumah L. B.
Author Affiliation: Department of Food Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
: 459-464
Abstract : This study was based on on-farm trials that were established with small farmers in the Maracas/St. Joseph Watershed in Trinidad and Tobago to evaluate the potential of fruit trees to improve the sustainability of crop production on their hillside plots. An evaluation of the performance of 3- to 3.5-year-old trees was conducted using quantitative methods on four farmers' holdings and a qualitative approach with two farmers. All farmers planted mango (Mangifera indica) and three also grew at least one of the following species, pomme cythere (Spondias dulcis), sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), carambola (Averrhoa carambola) and sour cherry (Phyllanthus acidus). The study examined the level of congruence between the farmers' and the researcher's evaluation, the criteria used and the factors identified as affecting tree performance. There was general agreement on the evaluation and the farmers explained the environmental, management and socioeconomic context in which production occurred. Income was the major factor affecting tree management but this was also related to labour, gender and health status.