By 2030, the government plans for the agricultural sector to contribute seven hundred million dollars to Dominica’s GDP.
At a press conference on Monday at the Financial Centre, Minister for Agriculture Hon. Roland Royer stated that a strong foundation has to be set to achieve these goals and in the upcoming month emphasis will be placed on essential areas.
“In this reset, our plans and programs are designed to meet the target set for the sector, for agriculture to contribute $700,000,000 to Dominica’s GDP by 2030,” he stated.
“A strong foundation has to be set to achieve these goals and therefore over the coming month emphasis will place on enhancing the delivery of extension services by building capacity and equipping officers with the necessary tools, promoting research and development by aggressively engaging Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and other organizations to enhance productivity in the sector.”
At the meeting, three major initiatives were mainly focused on including the White Potato Program, feeder road rehabilitation, and the Emergency Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project.
The White Potato Program is said to be aimed at reducing the importation of white potatoes into Dominica.
”The program is currently being implemented through the Division of Agriculture and Dominica Export-Import Agency (DEXIA) and today we can report 2,300 bags of seeds were imported in November 2022 and to date, 1400 bags [were] sold of which 1100 [have] been so far distributed to 115 farmers,” the minister revealed.
Approximately 35 acres were said to have been established thus far and it is reported that last year’s establishment of 32 acres has been surpassed. Their target this season is 70 acres.
In providing support to the program, the Ministry of Trade has organized a credit support facility provided by DEXIA: a package containing seeds, fertilizer, and agrochemicals that is distributed to farmers who are taking part in the program.
“In providing further support to this program the cost of fertilizer was reduced from $112 per bag to $50 per bag and the purchase price per pound was also increased from $1.35 per pound to $1.50 per pound,” he said.
As it relates to farm access roads, Royer mentioned the government has over the past two years invested $20 million under the European Development Fund for an improvement of eight major farm access roads in Grandbay, Calibishie, Castle Bruce, Paix Bouche, La Plaine, Woodford Hill, and Bagatelle.
This project will facilitate the implementation of the Loubiere to Bagatelle Road and serve the farmers of Bellevue and Pichelin.
“In addition to that, the ministry will undertake a condition assessment of 28 additional feeder roads across the island and this will inform the development of a comprehensive farm access road improvement program [and] the ministry anticipates that over 2000 acres of prime agricultural lands will become available for the expansion of production in the range of agricultural communities, targeting over 1500 farmers over the next three years.”
He revealed that $5 million under the European Development Fund is also available to continue the Feeder Road Rehabilitation Program and in addition, the Ministry of Finance is in process of securing another $5 million U.S. Dollars from the Caribbean Development Fund that will be put towards this development.
As it relates to the Emergency Livelihood and Climate Resilient Project, he noted that $38.7 million was spent over the past two years.
“3,311 crop farmers’, 30 livestock farmers, 163 fishers, and 3 boat builders have received direct support for the restoration of the operations. Additionally, throughout the pandemic, 700 backyard farmers along with 45 poultry producers and 40 pork farmers have received emergency support under the project.”
The minister also noted that in late 2022 the Prime Minister negotiated another package of financing valued at $21 million for the agricultural sector from the World Bank, under the crisis response window related to the rising price of inputs and shipping that threatens Dominica’s food security.
“Under this window, a contingency emergency response component has been triggered under the project allowing to provide support over the next 24 months in the Livestock Enhancement Program which will include subsidization of animal feed, strengthening broiler and egg production, rehabilitation of the national abattoir and strengthening hatchery operations.”
Other areas that will be developed are data collection and analysis including conducting an agricultural census which has not been done since 1995, and greater collaboration between the Ministries of Trade and Agriculture to build stronger linkages for marketing products.
Meantime Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the government will soon enter into a formal agreement for the development of the construction of a synthetic athletic track in Pointe Ronde, Portsmouth.
“We had previously informed the public that exploration of that site was underway for the development of this facility for the advancement of track and field in Dominica. The governor has now taken a firm decision on this and is moving ahead with plans for construction.”
He said the clearing of the land is underway and in the coming days and weeks more information will be shared with the public.
“It is our intention also to share the plans with the public so everyone is aware of what the facility will look like and what it will entail. This is a positive step forward in sports development in Dominica and is long-awaited.”
He added that in the next two weeks, additional projects which the government will embark upon will also be announced.
