DR GILLIAN SMITH
EACH YEAR on December 5, the world commemorates World Soil Day, an initiative spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to raise awareness about the critical importance of soil as a fundamental component of the natural ecosystem and a cornerstone of food security and sustainable agriculture. This year's theme, "Healthy Soils, Healthy Food, and Healthy Planet,' highlights the intricate connection between soil health and global challenges such as climate change, food production, and biodiversity preservation.
In TT, as in many other Caribbean nations, healthy soils are the lifeblood of productive agriculture, providing essential nutrients, water and anchorage for plant roots. They also contribute to climate change mitigation by actively storing carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
For farmers in TT, maintaining good soil health is paramount to ensuring sustainable livelihoods and food security. Healthy soils enable them to cultivate nutritious crops with higher yields, reducing their dependence on external inputs and boosting their income. Moreover, healthy soils are less susceptible to erosion and degradation, protecting their land investments and ensuring long-term productivity.
The FAO works closely with local farmers in TT to promote soil health management practices. Through training programmes, workshops and demonstration plots, the FAO equips farmers with the knowledge and skills to assess soil health, identify and address soil degradation issues, and implement sustainable soil management practices. These efforts empower farmers to make informed decisions that enhance soil fertility, improve crop yields, and protect their livelihoods.
Under the FAO Caribbean Pesticide Management Project, farmers and agriculture institutions tackle soil contamination through the promotion of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and the responsible disposal of pesticides. The project has been instrumental in developing national IPM guidelines and training programmes for farmers and pesticide retailers.
Under the FAO project, Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Food Security (Climsafs), small farmers are supported to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices such as conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient management and agroforestry. These practices can significantly improve soil health, water retention and carbon sequestration, thereby contributing to climate resilience and sustainable agricultural production.
Between 2021-2025, FAO, in collaboration with the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), is working in several Caribbean countries to implement the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) multi-country soil management initiative for integrated land restoration and climate-resilient food systems. This multifaceted project will assist countries to meet their obligations to land degradation neutrality (LDN), as well as assisting farmers' organisations and their members to comprehensively improve food
