Management of the Barbados Cocoa Quarantine Station

New material is constantly being introduced to the ICG,T, either from collection expeditions to obtain primary germplasm, or from exchanges with other countries, many of which have national cocoa collections. To facilitate the safe introduction of such new material to Trinidad, CRU operates a Cocoa Quarantine Station in Barbados (BCQS).

Barbados has no cacao industry and this fact coupled with its easterly location in the Caribbean made it an ideal place to house a centre for the quarantine of new cacao accessions.

Routine operation of the BCQS is carried out by the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. Routine duties include care for the cocoa plants (watering, attention to soil fertility, application of pesticides when necessary, periodic repotting), the maintenance of records and regular reporting.

CRU oversees the routine operation of the BCQS, by making regular visits to the site. These visits are also used to update the records of cacao germplasm held in quarantine, and to transfer plants or material for propagation between Trinidad and Barbados.
Operations at the Quarantine station have been temporarily suspended until additional funding has been acquired.