Plant breeding programs in Trinidad and Tobago
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago have had impressive economic growth in recent years, for example reaching 12% in 2006. The main driving force continues to be the energy sector, which includes oil, natural gas and related products. On the contrary, agriculture continued to turn in a mediocre performance and now contributes less than 1% of GDP.
Three main institutions conduct agricultural research in Trinidad and Tobago with some emphasis on plant breeding and to a lesser extent on plant biotechnology. The three institutions MALMR, CARDI and UWI are public sector agencies.
The main breeding programmes concern rice, hot peppers and cocoa. The work in maize is limited. Resource allocations were mainly for germplasm enhancement and line development.
The limiting factors of the success of plant breeding programmes in Trinidad and Tobago seem to be wide and varied. However the lack of knowledge and support as well as the lack of resources to implement work at the laboratory or field level can be pointed out as the most limiting ones.
Research and education institutes with activities in plant breeding
Public Institutes
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Ministry of Agriculture Lands and Marine Resources (MALMR)
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CARDI Trinidad and Tobago
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Crop Research Section (University of the West Indies)
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Information by Azim Hosein (2009). - Information based on the Trinidad and Tobago's full report from the PBBC survey. Last revised 24-06-2010, GIPB.