Agriculture Minister, Reginald Austrie, has said that eight months after the passage of Hurricane Maria, farmers are playing their part and feeding the nation and rebuilding Dominica after Hurricane Maria.
He spoke at a signing ceremony of US$65-million between the Government of Dominica and the World Bank for climate resilient projects on Thursday morning.
“Recent statistic shows that eight months after the passage of the most devastating hurricane recorded in modern history, the farmers of this country continue to demonstrate their resilience and their commitment to the task feeding the nation and rebuilding back our beloved country,” he said.
He stated that other than fresh fruits and vegetable farmers market at various supermarket, the records show that after Maria, a large number of other crops have been planted or replanted.
He broke it down as follows:
-266 acres of dasheen
-94.35 acres of yam
-105 acres of tarnia
-74.36 acres of sweet potato
-17.49 acres of passionfruit
-13.22 acres of ginger
-58.4 acres of bananas
-16.93 acres of plantain
“Very significantly though for the first time of the production in white potatoes, for the last 30 years, this year we have received our biggest crop of 5,500 bags,” Austrie, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said. “And the plans are to double that amount before the end of this year. And as challenging as it is to collect data which always does not always reflect the true contribution of agriculture to our GDP, this figure, I am sure to you and to all of us, will be very very encouraging.”
He stated that the island will be importing selected tree crops, which he said will be critical as the island’s agricultural sector rebounds after the hurricane.
He said 20,000 coconuts plants, 8,000 citrus plants along with coffee and avocado plants will be imported.
“We expect that the citrus plants will be here during the course of this month, the order has been made and I believe the plants have been paid for,” he stated. “The coconut plants we expect by June, the coffee we expect by May, avocado we expect by July.”
He, however, said all of this is dependent on weather conditions.
Farmers dont have a choice. Just like fishermen, they are catching fish in the wake of maria.
I don’t know what he expect them to do!
Drivers are driving in the wake of Maria
Nurses are nursing in the wake of Maria
Teachers are teaching in the wake of Maria
Politicians are thieving in the wake of Maria
Nothing change
I can say DA have the some of the best ground provisions on planet earth not to mention clean drinking water, I’m always thankful for that, DA is a blessed place eno, no doubt. But de people f up
Laborites leaving Dominica by boat loads to go UK, Antigua, US, Canada for process food and rain water 
Did DNO take this picture ? Or was it Austrie sending this pic of red soil? Of all the nice patches of dark land with bananas and dasheens we have in Da is that they putting on here?
ADMIN: This was a photo from our archives.
Listen to him for years he and his master neglected the farming sector. Now they all shouting: farming, farming and more farming and pumping a few dollars into the sector. Reason: votes to be won in this sector. Austrie and Skerrit you make me sick. You used your government position to enrich yourself big style at the cost of Ma Dominique – PETROCARIBE amongst others.
DLP from 2000- 2005 = failure
DLP from 2005 -2010 = failure
DLP from 2010- 2015=failure
DLP from 2010 -2018 = Disaster! Hurricane Skerrit has no conscience or respect for the people of Dominica.
Agriculture is one of the many industries that was devastated by storm DLP.
This DLP and the kind of so called Ministers are all square pegs in round holes. They have yet to tell us about the plans they have in place to revitalize the main industry and thus bread earner in Dominica. Agriculture has disappeared under DLP and they surely do not know how to manage such industry to bring it back.
You cannot point on any project that DLP has successfully develop or sustained. Skerooo must Go for Dominica to develop!
Please note folks, conventional Agricutural practices in Dominica are doomed to failure. Free Advice. Erect high wind greenhouses, capable of surviving 200mph winds. Grow wind sensitive crops in them, even disease free banana and citrus crops for starters. Also, Dominica must install water storage facilities throughout the island to insure crop success in times of drought……This is the beginning of what the Agricutural loans should be spent on……… I pray someone is listening.
Boy as I listened to Austrie and Skerrit this morning all I could do was shake my head. You talk about LIES. Boy I know we have World Wup cricket and west Indies won twice and there is World cup Football, which we never won but I AM SURE if they would organize a World Cup of LIES and Dominica would have Skerrit, Reggie and Tony representing us, we would beat any team in the world and even give them two for one because they really good in telling lying and deceiving people
I really wonder where Austrie got his statistics from. Did he get that information verified by field extension officers or from so called farmers that got $3000 to $10, 000 dollars for farms that Austrie, Skerrit, government ministers and others know doesn’t exist? I find all the man had to say is based on information verified by field officers such and such are indeed planted instead of talking about statistics show we have such and planted. To me as the perfect idiot, nothing adds up. It makes no sense because NO ONE would fire a minister after so much success and replace him with a demoted minister except Skerrit is upset with the success of the farm. Here is another confusing statement: He said 20,000 coconuts plants, 8,000 citrus plants along with coffee and avocado plants will be imported.
Why import so many plants? Yes hurricane throw down the majority of our tress; but you know the amount of young avocado plants, coconut plants, coffee plants I seeing all over? Stupes
I’ve been to other islands in this region … In my opinion, nothing compares to the food grown in Dominica. Who is going out there making trade deals and finding new markets for our produce? Anybody?
I am very lost here. If it is true that since Maria our farmers are once again able to feed Dominica and for the year, farmers were able to harvest 5,500 bags of white potatoes and all the other crops in soil, then to me that is very significant success. ‘IF’ that is true then why did Skerrit fire his minister for agriculture last month then? You fired the only minister to show any sign of success since Maria? But wouldn’t that be seen as a PM that fighting success, especially in agreculture? I just don’t get it man because you suppose to fire a man for failure! Am I to believe that the reason for firing Drigo is because he was not able to put out a report like the one of Reggie? Another confusion I have as the Perfect Idiot is that that statement about statistics.
Statistics: A branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation, presentation, and organization of data. So Austrie why drill us with statistics and not FACT? Where u got your stats from?
Oh wow! My doctor said I should not take salt but I have to put a lot of salt in this story of Austrie we boy. If it is true that our local farmers are already producing enough to feed the country and even export, then I STOP send barrels of food to Dominica because so many people are telling me how dread things are and how they cannot get anything to eat and Austrie and Skerrit boasting of how many tons of food they have since Maria? Even white potatoes I sending. Awa somebody lying to me and therefore NO more barrels of food because it costing me close to US$1000.00 to buy a barrel, full it and then ship it to family, friends and church people. Austrie please tell the people which super market to go to buy potatoes. If is super market they have it you think is not potatoes those supermarkets imported from Guada?
The numbers of acres for bananas and plantains are wrong. Has to be 10x these figures. And I know that by august so plantain going and waste on farmers hands cuz that a lot people go and plant ad there isn’t a market for it. Where DEXIA to find de market? You can take loans but how are tou gonna pay it back?
Also what does he mean ‘ I believe the plants have been are paid for,’ so all the 8000 citrus plants are already brought? And do we have to pay for the avocado and coconut plants? Are the coconut plants of the dwarf variety?
Austrie still don’t get it
Farmer can and will alway produce, it’s how you utilize what they produce into money and to better the economy
and after 18 years Skerrit dem can’t
Boy! I missing my roor crops and local fruits especially the mamgoes.