Continuing to build on its commitment to build capacity among Saint Lucian farmers, the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia held yet another workshop recently at its demonstration farm in Union, Castries. This time around, the focus was on papaya cultivation.
Nearly twenty (20) extension officers, farmers, agriculture students and a technical team from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), and team members from the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia participated in the 90-minute workshop on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Crucial information was shared regarding the practices involved in cultivating, harvesting and exporting of papaya.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Yang, Senior Production Specialist at the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, who explained the nutritional and economic benefits of papaya. He also shared how papaya farmers can prepare their own pesticide, using dishwashing liquid mixed with cooking oil.
Papaya is a sweet and juicy fruit renowned for its rich nutritional value and numerous health benefits. Packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folate, and various minerals, papaya offers a range of health benefits, including improved digestion, antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory effects. Aside from being consumed as fresh fruit, papaya is frequently processed into various products, including dried papaya, papaya juice, and papaya enzyme. Its exceptional nutritional value has established papaya as a valuable commodity in the global market.
Papaya originated in Central and South America and is now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. With a relatively short growth cycle, typically ranging from 9 to 12 months from seeding to fruit harvest, papaya presents considerable economic benefits.
The workshop formed part of the “Enhancement of the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector Project (Second Term), commonly known as the “Seven Crops Project”. The project runs from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2026, with the objective of strengthening Saint Lucia’s agricultural capacity building. Under the project, it is hoped that there will be a 25% increase in the local purchase of fruits and vegetables. The seven focal crops selected under the programme are cabbage, lettuce, tomato, bell pepper, watermelon, cantaloupe, and pineapple.
Mr. Edward Wilson, Production Officer with the Seven Crops Project at the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, explained that papaya production brings in lucrative returns, especially since not many farmers treat it as a cash crop.
“Papaya was one of the crops that farmers highlighted when we engaged them,” Mr. Wilson said. “There appears to be a growing need for in-depth training on how to care for and produce papaya. Papaya serves many nutritional needs. With the high rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in our small island developing states (SIDS), if we can consume more of our local fruits and vegetables, we can help reduce these health risks.”
For the farm demonstration, three varieties of papaya were highlighted, namely Tianan 1, Tainan 2, and Red Lady, the latter being the variety that is more common among Saint Lucians. Participants were shown how the spacing between trees, proper soil preparation, and regular pruning and spraying for pests can result in bountiful harvest.
During the demonstration, participants got to sample slices of ripe papaya. The TTM team also distributed papaya seeds to the participants, as well as the ‘Papaya Grower’s Manual’, a publication which outlines how to cultivate and care for the papaya crop. The manual also contains papaya recipes such as Papaya Salad, Papaya Pork Rib Soup, Papaya & Egg Stir Fry, and Papaya Milk Shake.
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