In 2026, the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Farm established two applied research projects to generate information that can contribute to more productive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural systems in Saint Lucia, while providing SALCC students with valuable hands-on research experience.

These projects combine scientific research with practical student learning and used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) to evaluate different varieties of bell pepper and papaya under local growing conditions. The research projects focus on the comparative performance of bell pepper varieties and the tolerance of different papaya varieties to Bunchy Top disease.

Evaluating CLimate-Resilient Bell Pepper Varieties

One of the projects, “Comparative Performance of a Climate-Resilient Bell Pepper Variety Versus Three Popularly Grown Varieties Under Protected Conditions at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Farm,” is sponsored by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) under the SAGE06 Project.

Conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the Farm’s 100-foot-long greenhouse, the trial compares a promising climate-resilient bell pepper variety with three varieties commonly grown by Saint Lucian farmers. The research is assessing yield, fruit quality and adaptability to local environmental conditions.

The trial incorporates a range of climate-smart and sustainable production practices, including biological products as the first option for pest and disease management, the use of 50% shade cloth to reduce heat stress, plastic mulch for weed suppression and moisture conservation, and fertigation through drip irrigation. Compost tea, irrigation scheduling and uniform crop management practices are also incorporated into the research.

The peppers were produced in the Farm’s seedling nursery and transplanted on 15 May 2026, with harvesting commencing on 15 July 2026. Data are being collected from each variety within each experimental block throughout the harvesting period.

The research is also providing students with practical experience in crop production, climate-smart agriculture, experimental design and data collection, while generating information that could assist farmers in selecting bell pepper varieties suited to Saint Lucia’s conditions.

Addressing Papaya Bunchy Top Disease

The second project focuses on “Screening and Characterisation of Tolerance to Bunchy Top in Different Papaya (Carica papaya) Varieties.”

Papaya Bunchy Top Disease is identified as one of the major constraints to papaya production in Saint Lucia. The SALCC Farm is therefore evaluating six papaya varieties to identify those demonstrating improved tolerance to the disease while maintaining desirable growth and production characteristics.

The research is examining plant growth, health, disease development and productivity under field conditions. Key activities completed to date include ground preparation, installation of ground cover and irrigation lines, nursery production of seedlings, transplanting in July 2026 and establishment of the plants in their active vegetative growth phase. Regular data collection is continuing throughout the production cycle.

The papaya trial is expected to provide useful information on the relative performance and disease tolerance of the varieties under Saint Lucian conditions. It is also giving students practical experience in nursery production, crop establishment, crop monitoring, field research and scientific data collection.

Together, the two projects underscore the SALCC Farm’s commitment to applied research, climate-smart agriculture and experiential student learning. By conducting research under local conditions, the Farm is contributing to the generation of practical knowledge that can help address challenges facing Saint Lucia’s agricultural sector.