Saint Lucia Farmers Get Agricultural Lime To Improve Soil Quality

The Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project is continuing its work under a sub-component to strengthen food security and improved resilience of the agricultural sector as it collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development. The latest in a programme of support has been the ongoing distribution of agricultural lime ,which started on July 30, 2024, in Odsan for farmers of regions 7 and 8. The benefit of the lime is to improve overall soil quality and nutrient absorption. The procurement and distribution of agricultural lime to farmers is a critical activity for UBEC, to support the sustainable development of the farming sector.  Mr. George Alcee, Crop Technical Officer of the UBEC PIU, further explains the benefits of the use of agricultural lime.  “Soil can become slightly too strongly acidic overtime, accelerated by the prolonged and intense use of nitrogen-based fertilisers. Acidic soil hinders the availability and uptake of soil/plant nutrients required for plant growth and optimal production by making more toxic elements soluble and more readily available to the plants.  In this regard, the use of agricultural lime presents an equilibrium in balancing the benefits and potential drawbacks of the continued use...