Other Common Names: Giant African snail, escargot Géant, Achatine, Caramujo

Achatina fulica is a very large snail that can weigh as much as 1kg. The body varies from pale cream to dark brown. The foot sole is flat. The shell can reach up to 20 cm (8”) in length and 12 cm (5”) in diameter. The shell is conically spired and narrowed at the apex. It has seven to nine rounded whorls (rarely ten) with moderately impressed sutures between the whorls. The shell colour can vary due to environmental conditions and diet, from light coffee to reddish-brown with cream to light yellow vertical streaks.

Persons attending a public town meeting at the St. Augustine Regional Complex on St. John’s Road in St. Augustine, benefitted from a sensitization session on Thursday 26th October, 2017, geared towards minimizing the adverse impact of an invasive pest – the giant African snail (GAS) – which, in additional to being a public nuisance and trade embargo, can cause harm to human health and more than 500 different species of plants. The meeting was chaired by the Tunapuna/ Piarco Regional Corporation. (more…)

This booklet was written to guide researchers, farmers and consumers on the different varieties of seim grown in Trinidad. This economically important legume crop is underutilized since very little information is available on its growth habit, yield and biochemical characteristics.

In 2006, Kamaldeo Maharaj (Director, Retired) and Susan Mootoo (Agricultural Officer I), initiated a collection exercise of seim varieties grown in Trinidad. Seeds of two (2) accessions were viable and used in this study. In 2007 the Vegetables Unit, Research Division, began a characterization project to collect and evaluate lines found in Trinidad. By 2009, the Vegetables Unit had collected 15 accessions, three of which were duplicates.

This project to study, evaluate and characterize the twelve (12) accessions was completed in 3 years. All of the accessions were established and characterized based on physical characters e.g. flowering pattern, weekly yield data, colour of flower and colour of pods. Additionally, biochemical data was also obtained on sweetness, crude fiber and protein content.

Images showing the plant, flowers and pods as well as graphs of the harvest data of each variety can be used to help farmers in selecting the appropriate variety for production. Breeders and researchers may also use this booklet in the development of new varieties.
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Bacterial leaf spot is a new bacterial disease that affects lettuce. It was discovered in Trinidad in 2012. Bacterial leaf spot is devastating as losses reported are 80-100%.

It appears as a water-soaked spot irregularly shaped, brown to black in appearance. Spots can coalesce to exhibit a blighted appearance

Cassava, rice and wheat are important suppliers of calories in the diets of Trinbagonians. Cassava is grown mainly by small farmers and is consumed boiled and fried or in soups and pastries. In Tobago farine, made from cassava, is a popular processed product. Consumption is not limited to the home since many fast food outlets do have cassava on their menu on a daily basis. This bulletin is intended to provide agronomic information for the successful cultivation of cassava.

The avocado lace bug is a tiny, sucking insect with wings that look like lace. This insect is found in the Caribbean and USA and attacks the leaves of avocado, camphor and red bay.

The avocado lace bug sucks the sap from the leaves and causes the formation of small, white to yellow spots. These spots grow larger and turn brown giving the appearance of scorched areas. Heavy infestation causes the leaf to dry, curl, and drop early. Severe leaf drop reduces yield.