HOOP greenhouses are now being established in the south of the island compliments the Taiwan Technical Mission.
Two of those greenhouses were established last month one of which has served as an educational facility for extension officers of the Ministry of Agriculture who were on a field trip.
This activity was put together by the project’s production team Mr. Eric Chen (Production Specialist) and Mr. Edward Wilson (Technical Production Officer). The extension officers were able to observe the growth difference between plants inside the hoop greenhouse and that of which lies in the open field, citing that the growth rate in the hoop grossly exceeded that on the open field.
The extension team received training in pruning techniques of honeydew & cantaloupe plants and can now assist farmers throughout the island. This technique will enable farmers to obtain uniformity in fruit sizes and improved fruit quality.
Following this training, The Taiwan Technical Mission announced the establishment of the second demonstration hoop greenhouse in the small community of Grace, located in the south of the island on the farm holding of Earl St. Marie who is a well-known farmer in the community.
With intervention from the Taiwan Technical Mission, the production team, comprising of Mr. Eric Chen project production specialist, Mr. Edward Wilson (Technical Production Officer) and the extension team from region 5 demonstrated the installation of the hoop greenhouse technology.
Farmers invited to field days on the holding will go through agronomical practices such as pruning & fruit thinning in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture which is working closely with the Taiwan Technical Mission to assist farmers with their production and consistency issues under the seven-crop import substitution project.
Above is a schedule of proposed dates for the hoop greenhouse set up in the different regions. Note that due to weather and other environmental limitations the dates are subject to change.