Tobago Correspondent
Tobago farmers say extreme heat is affecting their animals’ health. With drought-like conditions expected soon, farmers attended a climate resilience workshop on Tuesday to learn how to identify heat stress and reduce its effects.
The workshop at Kendal Farm School in Roxborough was hosted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
Farmers from Hope, Blenheim and Auchenskeoch reported increased panting, changes in feeding patterns, lower productivity and stunted growth. Livestock farmer Kyle Joseph, who rears poultry, goats and sheep, said his chickens were laying fewer eggs.
“Sometimes when you give them 20 gallons of water, they drink it out much faster. You come back and see the bucket empty. I have broilers as well, and they drink a lot of water,” he said.
Joseph said the dry conditions had affected his pipe-borne water supply, forcing him to rely on stored water. He has shifted his animals’ grazing time from 7am to 5am to keep them out of the sun.
Joseph welcomed the workshop, saying some farmers remained sceptical of technology. “I heard someone say to stick a cutlass in the ground to reduce humidity [for the animals]. That doesn’t cut it in nowadays farming.”
CARDI livestock scientist Dr Melissa Williams urged farmers to monitor their animals and keep regular records. Heat-stressed animals may pant more, drink more water, become less active and eat less, she said. Heat stress can also weaken poultry eggshells, affect litter size and reduce conception rates. She said data loggers near pens can monitor temperature and sound an alarm when it rises above a suitable level.
An FAO project established a forage bank with two drought-tolerant species to provide quality feed. It also supplied two farmers with systems: one received a hydroponic system, the other a tenderfoot flooring system. The flooring provides a cleaner, safer environment and helps reduce hoof rot.
The four-year, US$1.5 million pilot project is testing small-scale solutions and preparing Trinidad and Tobago to seek greater funding through the Green Climate Fund.
FAO lead technical officer Jacinto Buenfil said the project would end next month, but the systems would remain available to help other farmers. Recipients agreed to maintain them and use them as farmer field schools, where peers can learn how they operate and discuss challenges.
