Crop Data Gap Stalls Food Self-Sufficiency | Barbados News

Barbados’ push to slash food imports is hitting a snag—thanks to a glaring data gap in farming. With no clear picture of what’s planted, when, or when it’ll be ready, the Ministry of Agriculture can’t set or track realistic production goals. While they’ve got sweet potatoes and yams mostly under control, mapping 16 key crops—including 32 new sweet potato varieties—is proving tough. But hope’s on the horizon: a successful onion dryer trial means fewer imports soon, and a brand-new tissue culture lab at CARDI will soon deliver disease-free seeds and fresh crop options, turbocharging the nation’s food self-sufficiency drive. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f2921622fe418e6d