Prospective investors are being urged to consider investing in the island’s cocoa industry.
That appeal’s been made by Minister for Agriculture, Matthew Walter, who wants the private sector to invest in “value added agriculture”.
He sees this as a means of creating employment and improving the economy.
“We can add value and we can manufacture bi-products too from many of the agricultural raw materials that we produce in Dominica,” Walter is suggesting.
“Many of us like chocolate but we import a large quantity of chocolate into this country but we have the raw materials. Who in the private sector can take the risk and invest in the manufacturing of chocolate and other bi -products coming from the raw material cocoa?” he queried.
Matthew pointed to the citrus industry as another possible option that could be considered by potential investors wishing to add value to Dominica’s agricultural produce.
“We also speak in relation to an abundance of citrus fruits wasting all over the place. We can add value to all the mangoes that we have wasting and all the oranges and grapefruits and limes. Somebody has to do it because Central government cannot do it all,” he said.
According to the agriculture minister, central government has put in place the incentives to make such investments possible.
He says Government is also willing to collaborate with the private sector.
“In addition we can partner with you as a potential investor or in the form of a consortium to invest in transforming or in adding value to many of the agricultural raw materials that we have in Dominica.
Walter listed ginger and dasheen among a range of items he said could be developed through the kind of partnership being proposed.
He says he’ll continue to push that message that he emphasized at a recent town hall meeting in Bense.
Did you know that Hotel Chocolat has built a chocolate processing facility in St Lucia – just a ferry ride away. They are a quality UK company who may be open to importing our beans for a “Dominica” chocolate – has the government tried them?
That Minister just awoke from his slumber. How much assistance did you all give to the Christian initiative with their chocolate bars? Imagine $27 million, for State palace and jobs for Chinese, plus $8 million for a failing LIAT. Imagine how much that investment in the agriculture sector would do for us. Instead, begging has been institutionalized. Farmers, the rural folks and agriculture have been seriously neglected. The strategy is to impoverish people and hjave them begging with out-stretched hands. then their lives are in the control of their masters. the few are bathing in quickly amassed wealth and throughb dubious means. The majority continue to get poorer and poorer. Incompetence is what people like. What about the Coffee plant? What about Food security? Where is the integrated National development plan? Where does Agriculture fit in? Stop fooling the people again and again and again.
Let’s hope that all the variables in this endeavor seeks to invest in the younger generation through education, thus making agriculture industries an iconic landmark in our tresured Island.
DNO, Is this the Minister of Agriculture in the current cabinet whose prime minister just invested $8 million in Liat an airline that goes nowhere when comes to self sufficiency? and which private sector is he refering too who has to compete with all these chinese business that are closing them down. Can i ask the minister when growing up as a child did he suck the cocoa seeds?? i say this to say that most Dominicans living in the country do have one or two cocoa tree in their back yard and now that product is given so much attention on the world stage with its immense health properties am happy to see we are late in giving cocoa the attention, better late than never
It would really be more helpful if these ministers were to consult with the technical experts before making these wils suggestions like chocolate factory. Do you have any idea how to make chocolate? have you ever visited a chocolate factory? Do the feasibility study first and then make the statements based on research then the public will be more likely to entertain you. We have at least five qualified food technologists currently in Dominica doing not much. Employ them to do your back ground work. If you do not even know who they are ask me and I will give you their details. No cost.
that should have been “wild suggestions” typo!
well, there is a long white building wasting in geneva grand bay so why not open a juice plant or chocolate factory there.
the key to investment is market and price….can we produce and sell at a price that is profitable and sustainable.
the other key factor for consideration is access…how easy is it for resources and finished-product transportation, internally/externally.
then there is the cost of production and consideration for economies of scale. Co-operative VS individual investors/producers.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Where was this speech given? Not too long agao the manufacturing sector asked for help from the Government.
I think the Government and manufacturing Sector should sit down and come up with a way to actually implement some of these ideas.
I rather hate when all i hear is speech,speech and more speeches.
Since i small i hearing speech of factory for our fruits….when will we actually see one?/
We Can have our own chocolate factory here! I think that’s a great idea.