Government has earmarked $3-million as the battle against the dreaded banana disease Black Sigatoka.
Speaking at the opening of the multi-million Dominica/China Agricultural Station in One Mile Portsmouth on Wednesday afternoon, agriculture minister, Matthew Walter, said pests and disease have taken a toll on the island’s agricultural sector.
“We have seen a vicious attack on our crops subsector by pests and diseases,” he said. “The advent of the dreaded Black Sigatoka disease has impacted significantly the banana industry, eroding further farmer confidence and involvement in the sector.”
He pointed out there has been a marked drop in banana production but the government aims to reverse that trend by collaborating with several players “in crafting a realistic plan of action” to stop the trend.
“The government has earmarked $3-million to keep Black Sigatoka at bay,” he said.
Matthew noted for the agricultural sector to respond to challenges such as Black Sigatoka and to increase GDP, it must be “robust, smart and resilient.”
Black Sigatoka was first detected in Dominica in July, 2012.
The Dominica/China Agricultural Station is expected to enhance the island’s agricultural sector.
It is expected to train farmers, contains a propagation area for different plants and will be equipped with a number of state of the art agricultural equipment and technology.
while allu taking my advice and burning the fields… why don’t you rename the virus white sagatoka. why everything bad always attributed with beautiful black? alludohreadyet!
just burn the fields and replant… you don’t need 3 million dollars for that.
This Rep from Paix Bouche one of the most powerful constituencies on the island is a total embarassment to the PM and the very people he thinks he represents. It is time for this guy to go parking. There is nothing he can point his fingers on to show what he has done for the Government and the people of his constituency.
All he does is feast on other peoples ideas. He is a total waste and an embarassment.
too little… waaaayyyy too late.
this dreaded disease has already spread to a wide sector of the country and has already killed off fields and the small coffers of the farmers.
now? now? only now? something is going to be done?
I expect to hear something about chickungnea in the next few months as well when sooooo many people have already and are continuously being infected.
a people without a plan will perish!!!
this government has no foresight and no plans. they just make a whole set of haphazard decisions that have no long term benefits.
yet another plan by a reactive government>> never sprayed against sigatoka. but election coming so trying a ting on de farmers non. change is a must Mathew
Election is coming…. Mr . PM is it true that your government is embarking on a building a bridge from the north of Dominica to the south of Guadeloupe?
DOMINICA/CHINA agricultural station?
MR skiritt, , tell us who does this agricultural station really belong to? Is it really china’s own ,, my God ,,help us
Is the state house also Dominica/China’s own
Pawol en Bouche ce pas met. During the height of Black Sigatoka the same government did not have money to pay the coordinators. The same government could not get the chemical treatment on island on a timely basis.
Yes I Matthew, so what nonesense were speaking at St. Joe about agriculture doing well and about enough food to export. The realistic plan that you talk about would be the completion of the much needed Agric. Policy which the immediate past PS Douglas assured would be completed by Easter. Well easter long come and gone, we have a new PS and nothing is being mentioned….
Yes they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be honest our bananas got struck down with Sigatoka and are now totally free of it. In fact we actually cut some banana plants down and they are now growing free of the disease so I don’t see it as a long term problem.
so once again farming is important to skerrit and his bunch of wicked ppl…. one thing election really coming eh…. let me see if these ppl here are that foolish to vote this corrupt dlp again….
So all-u just want to be the ones to do the corrupt? What difference does it make…in other words that’s the difference it makes, you are all politicians, just want a change of who does the corruption eh?
If you know your people well, you know they will once again kick themselves in the butt, by voting this guy back in
well hope the money find its way to deliver the service it is intended for and not give a spray cycle once in every 6 to 8 months under the pretext that authorities do not want the disease to build resistant to the chemical.
The banana industry been dying or should I say dead for year. So people tell skerrit to use his intellect and invest d money in tourism.
Give Dominica a fighting chance in the ever growing, limitless tourism industry
Kinda late, but I hope and pray that that money is used efficiently and effectively to eradicate or make insignificant that disease.
Stupes. Fools paradise at the elebenth hour.
Matthew you will be remembered as the Agriculture Minister in the Skerrit led failed and wicked Labour Party who supervised the death of agriculture on island. You seem to be always making the news these days. I wonder why?
Being as incompetent a Minister as you are, i wonder how well you served the Paix Bouche constituency over the past two (2) decades (20years).
HOW LONG?
NOT LONG!