EVALUATION OF YOUNG FRUIT TREE PERFORMANCE IN HILLSIDE TRIALS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

This study was based on on-farm trials that were established with small farmers in the Maracas/St. Joseph Watershed in Trinidad and Tobago to evaluate the potential of fruit trees to improve the sustainability of crop production on their hill¬side plots. An evaluation of the performance of 3 to 3.5-year old trees was conducted using quantitative methods on four farmers’ holdings and a qualitative approach with two farmers. All farmers planted mango (Mangifera indica L.) and three also grew at least one of the following species, pomme cythere (Spondias dulcis Forst.), sapodilla (Manilkara zapota van Royen), carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) and sour cherry (Phyllanthus acidus Skeels). The study examined the level of congruence between the farmers’ and the researcher’s evaluation, the criteria used and the factors identified as affecting tree performance. There was general agreement on the evaluation and the farmers explained the environmental, management and socio-economic context in which production occurred. Income was the major factor affecting tree management but this was also related to labour, gender and health status.