Research Projects

Tree-crop diversity and enterprise development through agroforestry: A participatory survey and GIS-based analysis in the Virgin Islands

Rationale/Objectives

Objective 1. Survey existing on-farm production systems in the Virgin Islands to characterize current production, classify marketable products, and assess capacity for farmer participation in future project activities;

From a list of licensed farmers supplied by the VI Department of Agriculture, interviews and farm tours with each of 204 agricultural producers on St. Croix, from May through August 2003, provided data on species composition, production categories, management practices, land area and location along with demographic and ownership or lease characteristics. A geo-spatially referenced point was taken at each interview location. Farmers were asked to indicate their most important agricultural product, preferred tree crops, preferences for future production, and level of interest in small business development.

Results show mean farmer age was 56 years (min 27, max 90, median 53), 25% were female and 38% of the farmers interviewed were born on St. Croix. For production, 74% farm 1 to 10 acres while 6% farm greater than 100 acres (median 5 acres); 66% own the land while 34% lease or have land use permits. The median number of products per farm was 15. Of the farmers interviewed, 27% stated horticultural crops, 22% tree crops, and 31% animal production were the most important to them.

The majority of farmers on St. Croix are not Cruzan (Table 1). Though some differences exist in land access (acquisition), it is most interesting to note that a significantly greater number of Cruzans indicated animal production as most important while a significantly greater number of non-Cruzans (not born on St. Croix and neither parent St. Croix born) stated horticultural crops were their most important production. Cruzans also farmed larger median land area than non-Cruzans.

Highlighted cells indicate significant difference at p<.05 within rows.

Management practices utilized by farmers ranged from organic (60%) and inorganic (26%) soil amendments, mulch (32%), irrigation (33%), and synthetic pesticides (29%) to rotational grazing (25%) and crop rotation (22%). Some farmers (4%) maintained fish ponds, rain catchments (28%) and actively managed shade (34%) in their production systems. The majority learned these practices from their parents (63%) while others were self taught (17%) and fewer learned from school (7%), work (4%), or extension workshops (1%).

Major concerns for the farmers included water (44%), price of inputs (26%), fencing (20%), theft (20%), and stray dogs (18%). In addition to formal questions, more workshops and extension information was voluntarily requested by 7% of the farmers.

Of the farmers interviewed 16% produce only for home consumption while 70% produce for family use and to sell. Though 31% state they have some business underway, 86% of the producers expressed interest in developing or amplifying an agriculturally-based business. There is clear interest in small business development and great potential for participation in future project activities.

Objective 2. Develop a spatial database using GIS (geographic information system) techniques to describe the distribution, composition and production characteristics of farms and homegardens;

Development of the spatial database began during the first year of the project with the compilation of GIS data from several sources. Basic GIS data, such as major roads, hydrography, digital elevation models, digital topographic maps, digital ortho quads, and soil survey maps (SSURGO) were obtained from the USDA-NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway. In January 2003, a trip to the Conservation Data Center (CDC), University of Virgin Islands, St. Thomas helped project PDs assess and gather additional GIS data for the island of St. Croix. Additional GIS data obtained from the CDC included U.S. Army Corp of Engineers orthorgraphic and topographic data, watershed boundaries, digital orthophotos (1:9600), Census Bureau data, and vegetation and land use data produced by The Nature Conservancy Rapid Ecological Assessment. All the data were re-projected into a common coordinate system (UTM Zone 20, NAD83). A spatial database with the above mentioned data layers was then assembled for use in ArcView or ArcGIS from ESRI.

An additional component of the spatial database involves the integration of production systems data obtained from our surveys in St. Croix in the summer of 2003. During the survey period, over 200 farms, homegardens and other agricultural or agroforestry production sites were geo-referenced with GPS units. In order to integrate production systems data to the GIS, analyze this information, and utilize it for research and extension purposes, a relational database management system (RDBMS) was designed. Activities during year two include developing the production systems database (data entry and query constructions) and integrating it to the spatial database for the various needed spatial analyses.

Recognizing the value of the production systems database and the St. Croix GIS to agricultural and natural resource professionals, we will be developing the St. Croix Agroforestry Decision Support System (STXAFDSS). STXAFDSS will package the relevant production systems and spatial data into a user-friendly web-based interface. End-users, such as personnel at the NRCS, UVI Extension, Virgin Islands Dept. of Agriculture and others will be able to view maps and access spatial data such as soils, land use, elevation and others, in addition accessing and spatially evaluating production systems data on the island.

Objective 3. Outline and implement strategies with landowners for marketing and enterprise development for nontimber forest products (e.g. fruits) with a vision to developing value added products

This phase of the project work is scheduled to begin in February 2004. Farmers that said they were interested in enterprise development will be invited, initially, to participate in group workshops on business and entrepreneurial skills. Those farmers that continue to participate in group and individual sessions will have the opportunity to outline business and marketing plans with assistance from project collaborators (UF, UVI and community partners identified in phase 1 of the project). Implementation of plans will continue through year 3 of the project in an iterative fashion based on strategy outlines.

Promising partnerships emerged through contact networks during year one of the project. The VI Department of Agriculture has begun a marketing program with some infrastructural support on St. Croix. The VI DOA also has developed fruit tree sales, promotion of quality grafted stock, and nursery infrastructure. Public institutions (e.g. schools) and private industries (e.g. drinks/dairy) show interest in purchasing more local products and potential to synergize value-added production on the island.

UVI has a Small Business Development Center available to work with T-STAR project participants. Also, the USDA has programs relevant to farm business support and has cultivated good working relationships with farmers in both farm business information and conservation practices. USDA Farm Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Resource Development Council staff supplied valuable information to the project during year 1 and pledge continued interaction with the project and participants.

Objective 4. Develop enrichment and conservation planting designs with landowners to enhance production of tree and crop products in multi-strata and silvopastoral agroforestry systems

Recognizance of available resources and organization of resources and partner groups to address needs of project participants (regardless of business and marketing implementation) will be continued with contacts made during year one of the project. Emphasis will focus on helping participants interested in implementing enterprise development to help assure they have a solid foundation to base plans upon. Sharing knowledge from databases developed during the survey, both with collaborative partner groups (e.g. VI DOA) and extension workshops with producers will enhance capacity of local technical assistance providers into the future. The decision support system developed through the spatial database component of the project will be instrumental in the design process with farmers. This objective will be addressed during year 2.

Objective 5. Catalog and collect germplasm to diversify and improve seed stocks for native tree crops, develop small tree nurseries (as necessary) and initiate community forestry activities in collaboration with local institutions

UF and UVI-AES contact with the Cruzan Botanical Garden, Fairchild Tropical Gardens, the US Forest Service and other organizations (e.g. NGOs: The Nature Conservancy and St. Croix Environmental) indicate that advances are slowly being made in germplasm provision for useful tree species. UVI-AES research on native and introduced (some invasive) tree species and subtropical fruits can be combined with expertise from the Gardens and facilities on St. Croix to viably store tree seed of preferred or commercially valued species. On-going efforts to educate existing nursery managers hold promise for reliable production of quality seedlings for outplanting in year 3 of the project. Work with the USFS and NRCS supports these goals with a number of activities; from nursery infrastructure or technical assistance funding to seed collection, storage information and outplanting design criteria. Work to fulfill objective 5 will be organized and begun in year 2 but, largely undertaken in year 3 of the project.