PERSPECTIVES FROM A PILOT STUDY OF FARM PRODUCTION, MARKETING SERVICES AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN

A pilot-exploratory study involving the selected islands of Dominica, Montserrat, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent was conducted during 1985/86. This study focused upon the components of agricultural marketing communication infrastructure and on the organizational and specialization technologies employed by the farmer sector. Data collected were analyzed to assess the extent of production-market development, the patterns of development needs in production and marketing among the selected islands, and factors which could support or inhibit the introduction of service and/or system change. Primary data were collected via surveys and interviews with representatives of government agencies, corporations, private agencies, field experts, and individual farmers. The analysis employs a social network perspective as an overlay for discussing agronomic practices, processing, marketing, and sector services in the context of Existing and potential operation models