Trinidad and Tobago have simply not been able to sell
themselves or their work to the farming community. Even when
significant research findings are presented, the information is not
attractive to the farmer or to the population at large. Trinida-
dians, and to a lesser extent the Tobagonians, are culturally and
socially conditioned to being entertained with flare and flam-
boyance. Research and extension personnel must understand and
accept that fact if they are to ever make a significant impact on
the farming population. A more colourful image could hardly
hurt the agricultural researcher and use of more effective channels
of communication can only enhance transfer of adequate
technology.
 Research objectives have not always been consistent with re-
quirements and sometimes fluctuate with farmer demands rather
than with farmer needs. Most farmer organizations operate as
pressure groups with insufficient procedure for meaningful
dialogue on technological development. This may give rise to irra-
tional shifting in research priorities. Personnel involved in research
related to vegetable pests are sometimes assigned to control pro-
grammes in the absence of adequate fundamental research. Much
more collaboration among researchers and a more stable balance
between field and laboratory investigation into problems which
relate to pests of vegetable crops seems imperative.
 Researchers and extension officers are usually moving against
very strong currents in their attempt to encourage a well balanced
and long-term view of pest management. The part time and
sporadic nature of vegetable cultivation in Trinidad further com-
pounds the problems of long range planning. Time spent on the
farm site does not always coincide with working hours of profes-
sionals in the field. The electronic media must be utilized more
often. An ongoing programme of farmer education has been
organized by the Farmer's Training Centre of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Lands and Food Production, but most small farmers
claim that they cannot make the time to attend, and invariably
participants are those who are already academically ahead. The
strategy of taking training to the farmer has also been tried, but
most are still unable to make the time needed for attendance.
Even when the farmers have been trained, they find it extremely
difficult to implement what they have been taught. There is
deep-rooted fear of trying new methods and many feel relatively
secure in their old practices. Despite a desire for higher levels of
production there is some degree of comfort in known limitations.
At any rate, their livelihoods are not totally dependent on farm-
ing and many farm only when it seems economically convenient.
This group simply cannot invest time in educational programmes
on pest management.
 Because of the wide range of crops generally cultivated by an
individual farmer, the volume of technical information which he
must handle is inexhaustible. This is often a deterrent to the
farmer who has limited time for education anyway. The absence
of crop specialists in the production systems makes technological
transfer difficult as training programmes must be quite general in
order to attract a reasonably-sized audience. Within recent years,
a new brand of vegetable farmer has been emerging in Trinidad
and Tobago. This group consists of professionals from various
fields, some of whom appear to have recognized the need for
stable, well-managed production systems, and have an inclina-
tion to establish export markets and/or viable agro-industries.
They generally attempt to work larger holdings with higher in-
vestment capital. Although they are quite responsive to training
programmes, their lack of practical field experience has led to a


number of very basic farm management problems which has not
helped implementation of pest management programmes. In ad-
dition, great skepticism exists within the group and they continue
to hold tenaciously to their original professions. Greater incen-
tives for total dedication to farming have to be provided.
 A number of individuals have become involved in home
gardening for a variety of reasons. Many see it merely as a new
fad. Others are quite concerned about reducing food bills and
eating uncontaminated foods. This group has responded quite
enthusiastically to training programmes in pest management, but
because of the great variety of training needs, courses are very
generalized and basic. Invariably, pest management techniques
which are designed for commercial farmers are applied to the
home garden situation. Pesticides are being applied with quite a
range of substitute equipment at excessive dosages resulting in
outbreaks of secondary pests. This situation may be quite
threatening to commercial farmers. In addition, training
demands for home gardeners have risen drastically, perhaps to
the misfortune of commercial farmers, some of whom have begun
to be disgruntled. Although use of the electronic media has been
quite effective in stimulating interest among home gardeners,
there is certainly a much greater need for this medium to be ex-
plored as a channel for education of the larger commercial
farmer.
 Many who receive costly training demonstrate little devotion to
agricultural development and the many problems encountered in
altering pest management practices of traditional farmers, sug-
gesting that greater objectivity in selection of target groups for
training and land distribution is necessary. More training needs
to be tailored for elementary and secondary school students who
would be the agriculturalists of the future. Documentary films
currently produced do not cater to these young students despite
the fact that Agricultural Science forms an integral part of the
curriculum of many schools. Agricultural Science teachers and ex-
tension officers have had little training in pest management prac-
tices, an area which appears to be somewhat neglected in the
University's curriculum. There is obvious need for well-managed
demonstration farms from which various types of people may
learn, not only pest management strategies, but all skills related
to successful vegetable production.


Conclusion
 In Trinidad and Tobago, vegetables are produced on small
farms, many of which are really extended backyard gardens. In an
attempt to reduce the number of man hours needed for good
production of high quality vegetables, sophisticated pest
management technology, in preference to cultural pest manage-
ment practices, is imposed on relatively simple production
systems. This has resulted in great wastage of pesticides with con-
sequent problems. Pest management is even more complex in
areas of intense cultivation and central planning. Provision of
professional pest management services and more specialized pro-
duction on larger, more highly mechanized farms have been
recommended. It has been suggested too, that the electronic
media be more thoroughly explored as an effective training tool,
that research and training programmes be more field oriented
and designed to accommodate more objectively selected target
groups, and that adequate guarantees and incentives be provided
for motivating more people toward total commitment to
vegetable production, processing and marketing.


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