RADA Encourages Soil-Centred Approach to Crop Production

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is encouraging a measured, soil-focused approach to restoring crop production, following heavy rains.

Senior Plant Health and Food Safety Officer with RADA, Francine Webb, said composting and careful soil management will be critical, as topsoil in parishes heavily affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa has been displaced.

“We are encouraging farmers to do composting, because that is going to be important. So much of our topsoil would have been displaced due to landslides and flooding, that compost is something that you want to start doing now to help the general soil health going forward,” she said, in an interview with JIS News.

Ms. Webb said farmers should allow soils to dry properly before re-entering fields, noting that premature activity can worsen existing damage.

“Allow the soil to dry to a crumbly texture before you go back in the field, so that you can start to lightly work in the soil. Getting the oxygen back in is going to be important. Be mindful of not too much machinery right now, because if your soil is wet, you don’t want that to add to the level of compaction that you have,” she said.

She noted that compacted soils can lead to long-term challenges, including restricted root growth and increased disease pressure. In addition, heavy rainfall often results in nutrient loss, particularly at the root zone.

“The nutrients that you have at the roots would have been leached. So, it’s going to be important, in helping the plants to recover, that nitrogen is added. Potassium, your macronutrients, nitrogen and potassium in particular, you want to add these with some micronutrients in small doses,” Ms. Webb said.

She encouraged farmers to adopt a gradual feeding strategy.

“Spoon feed the plant a little, to help them in recovering, rather than giving them a large amount. You want to help them also to gradually recover from the shock,” Ms. Webb said.

For technical expertise and guidance through farm visits or general advice, farmers can reach out to the RADA Office in their parish.