Agricultural and Natural Resources Department

International Society for Horticultural Science

Horticulture Research International

Agricultural and Natural Resources Department / St Helena

Town/City
Scotland

POST/ZIP code
STHL 1ZZ

Telephone No.
(+ 290) 4724

Fax Number
(+ 290) 4603

Organisational Structure
The Agricultural and Natural Resources Department is responsible for all aspects of agriculture throughout the Island, with its main aim being to foster self sufficiency and encourage and support the export of those agricultural and forest products which can be grown economically on the Island. The Department works towards encouraging the production of these products through the smallholder sector, while working within a framework of soil conservation. Aid is given to the smallholder sector through the three main divisions of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, these divisions are the Agricultural, Forestry (including Conservation) and Fisheries Directorate. Through these divisions technical and financial advice including support is given to all farmers in the form of the Agricultural Research and Extension Service, Pest Control including the Integrated Pest Management Team, Farmers Support, Livestock, Irrigation, Farm Management and Human Resources, all which work towards the Departments main objective.

Research Programs
The Research and Extension Section of the Agricultural Division carry out all research programmes on St Helena. The emphasis of research work is placed on the development of the staple food market. As St Helena is very much isolated from the rest of the world (it's only transport link being a small ship running between Ascension Island, the UK and South Africa) often staple food supplies are imported to help sustain the Islands population. Research is geared towards developing this area in terms of finding new methods of improving storage conditions for crops and also finding new varieties of crops that are suited the Islands unique growing conditions. The Farmers Association and the Extension Section of the Department link research on St Helena very strongly to the farming community. A programme of Farmer Participatory Research determines research where areas in crop production, which are important to the Islands farmers, are brought forward and addressed. Research into new cash crops for development on the Island also plays a big part in the work of the Research Section. Forestry research is also an important area for development of St Helena. Current forestry trials include the development of dry land timber species, high value timber and fodder crop production. Research is also carried out, to a lesser extent, in the production of fodder and Livestock fields.

Institutes / Stations:
Agricultural Division, Research and Extension Section

Update data