Agricultural Potentials and Constraints in the Virgin Islands By Darshan S. Padda Director of Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service College of the Virgin Islands Agriculturally, the Virgin Islands are a paradox. Only a small portion of the agricultural potential is being realized. The con- straints on agricultural development are such that it will require almost total cooperation throughout the government, the College of the Virgin Islands, and on the part of the people of the Virgin Islands to significantly improve agricultural development. Presently, because of the increased awareness to diversify our economy among the general public, it appears the time is right to bring about significant improvements in the agricultural sector. The degree to which this can be done will depend largely upon our ability to unify all the people of the Virgin Islands in support of agriculture. The case for increasing agriculture production in the Virgin Islands is augmented further by aesthetic consideration. When St. Croix was an island of neatly manicured sugar cane fields, it was much more scenically attractive than in its present condition of abandoned farmlands covered with scrub vegetation. A viable agriculture on all three Virgin Islands would greatly enhance the natural beauty of the territory. POTENTIAL FOR VIRGIN ISLANDS AGRICULTURE The potential for agriculture production and marketing in the U.S. Virgin Islands exists in several areas. Small scale vegetable production and backyard farming is very feasible on all the three islands. In an effort to encourage vegetable production, the College of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service has published 23 factsheets written by scientists at the Agricultural Experiment Station, and this locally developed informative literature is avail- able to all V.I. residents free of charge. Also, in addition, possibili- ties regarding ornamental horticulture and foliage plant nurseries on St. Thomas and St. John as a profitable enterprise are being studied. Due to the lack of large, flat tracts of land, terrace farming production of vegetables, 'rrs, specialty crops, and controlled environment ciop production re more suitable methods of farm- ing for St. John al;j Si Thomas. Poultry farming and small live- sti,'. production n "i A! being practiced needs to be improved in qu:l, :, as well a quaiLy. New breeds of animals and farm man- agement methods are available that can increase the efficiency of production. An exciting possibility exists to produce fuel alcohol (ethanol) on the farms to meet the energy needs of our specialized agricultural industry. Small scale stills are available that can be used under our conditions. "-_.The topography of St. Croix offers the possibilities of large scale aicultural production. Anima husband is hemosvie agricultural enterprise in the islands at the present time but is 'iflifcT-'wTflivery high cost of feed grains. It has been demon- sfraiteTthat sorghum will grow very well on lan'rforerusei for sugar cane. Successful production of forage typ~e varieties of sorghum has m-ireienti 'rieIiel eto meet the local need for "silage. However, the grain types have not been prouc n a large i~alenrid utilized in feed rations. The technical ifi iff6tion Tir this" enterprise has already been developed by CVI's experiment station. It should be possible to grow 800 acres of grain sorghum to supply all needs of dairy herds. Additional production of grain sorghum would open many possibilities. Among these would be the fol- lowing: ^- I. Locally available feed for increased production of poultry, hogsaad beef to provide meat for the residents and visitors. If all livestock and livestock products consumed in the islands are "prolduced locally, a boost in the economy of up to $100 million per year is a real possibility. 2. Possible export of feed grains to neighboring islands which are also importing concentrates at the present time. 3. Enhancement of the islands' beauty by replacing unsightly brush with an attractive crop. While the potential for the islands' agriculture appears to be favorable for expanded production of livestock produclts-based, upon grain sprghum production it should be recognized tbhat i'fsT`i aile potentil also exists for commerciQ dl oduction of -Tood crops and fish for domestic use as well as fopxport. The 'Tresh produce should beused locally and processed 'food through sa l manning industries shoulbeJ g targjeTe o J t. r " well planned cropping scheme implemented on 2,000 acres can yield enough produce to fulfil our reqguiements. In my opinion, the real potential for agriculture growth lies in our commercial '\ploitaiion of less common tropical fruits like soursop, genep, guava, tamarind, tropical plums, sapodilla, sugar-apple, custard- apple, and pomegranates, to name a few. Additionally, potential exists to profitablly grow and market papaya, mango, avocado, and certain types of citrus. The success of grape research at CVI can open up a whole new industry covering the spectrum from table grape production to wine production. Crops such as im,_. papaya, and aloe, produced for pharmaceutical products, an~ j -a find sunflower for industrial purposes offer real potential raso.j 'iesepoientials --to-be realized -- need a carefully thought- out expansion plan for the islands' agriculture, CONSTRAINTS ON REACHING AGRICULTURAL POTENTIALS The numerous constraints that present difficulties in reaching the potential include a shortage of water dung "certain ties gf the year; th e y uraLpj- Sa tight agricultural labor supply; high cost and lack of dependahle m tnn-jori arma mairviceir l gc and lQg aLnonavailabiljity of jgriculturjl inputs; and a limited num- ber of younger practicing farmers. - Of all the constraints, water supl~ _is. the most critical in vegetable and fruit farming. Although the total rainfall isin excess f att neeldl fn agricultural purposes it coiniioradiQclly.d makes agricultural production uncertain.Also, the evapotranspira- f-fateis very high.A few ears agoi oked certain that one million gallons ofiwatier per would be available from the 'seWagTiifatment plant on-St. Croix. This could provide water for stpp entWtlirgation for ircutural production. Unfortunatlefy I tkas neVer apned. There are a considerable number of far ponds and impoundments with a total storage capacity of about 50_mill 'gaon ons. But additional, large impoundments of water need to be bujiltoesume equate supply of irrigation water to supplement the erratic natural rainall SThe second major problem o lack of lncad can only be_ solved if the Government of the Virgin sianas ca.n tmd some 9