PiSLM and Ministry of Agriculture Soil Sampling successfully executed

National Soil Survey completed in quicker time than expected.  The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PiSLM) soil sampling was scheduled for 5th to 21st June but according to Brent Georges, the project focal point in his pronouncement on Thursday 15thJune. “I am happy to report that the soil sampling exercise in Antigua is now completed.  There are three points that are yet to be taken because they fall on private property.   However, Mr. Adriel Thibou, Senior Forestry Officer has made arrangements to have these done tomorrow, Friday”, Mr. Georges said.

One hundred and twenty samples were scheduled to be collected in two phases which were forty-nine samples on Barbuda during 5th to 9th June, then seventy-one samples throughout Antigua during 12th to 21st June.  By 15th June, sixty-eight of the seventy-one were collected followed by the remaining three that were collected on Friday because the team had to gain permission for access to sites from a private land owner.

Reiterating George’s statement was Dr. Gaius Eudoxie, (Professor from the University of the West Indies – St. Augustine/Trinidad) who along with his team spearheaded this expedition.  “We could not have done this without the local support, which was tremendous.  Once again, we have seen clearly that teamwork makes the dream work”, said Eudoxie.

Heartfelt thanks were extended to all who participated in the exercise. “Thank you to the teams who participated from the Department of Environment (DoE), the Ministry of Agriculture’s (MoA) Analytical Services, staff members of the Agricultural Extension Division, our Barbuda team, staff from the Forestry Unit, Statistics Research and Information Unit, MoA Experimental Division, MoA Communication team, PiSLM and the team from UWI.  Everyone came out participated, supported and did the long trekking to complete the sampling one week ahead of schedule”, said Georges.

The soil samples were taken to Trinidad for analysis and further testing.