Director of Agriculture calls for unified approach to coconut industry development

Coconuts in Dominica before Hurricane Maria

Director of Agriculture, Ricky Brumant has called for a unified approach to ensure that the coconut industry is developed in Dominica.

He was addressing a one-day Entomological Risk Management workshop for small coconut producers and other producers held at the Newtown Primary School on Wednesday.

“So we need that collective action, that unity that we will require to ensure that coconut is developed,” he said. “We are looking forward to pushing coconuts as a local industry, engaging all the stakeholders to ensure that at the end of the day we win the game. We need, like we say, all hands onboard to push on that sector.”

According to Brumant, “we are at a point where we are in the ashes with coconut” but is confident that the industry will rise again.

“And so from the ashes, we will rise and build the coconut industry that will be better than what it was before.”

Brumant mentioned that the coconut industry is a million-dollar one and “we must pay some significance to that.”

“In the ministry, it is a priority crop for us, we have it certainly as one of the important development areas in agriculture to push forward on,” he stated.

Brumant described coconuts as a crop that is used locally but the idea that it can be exported as a water nut as well as a dry nut is very important to Dominica.

He pointed out that the idea of mitigation against pest is very vital for Dominica.

“The idea of mitigation looking at pests and diseases in coconuts is of course of concern, and so we have to work out the challenges,” he noted.

He said that in terms of an approach, the ministry will select a particular person to deal with that issue as well as a team of people to give support to that person.

“That is where we are going and we are looking at every crop like that,” Brumant explained.

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11 Comments

  1. agronomist
    July 15, 2018

    It would be interesting to know what threats to the industry the division is trying to address

  2. RastarMarn
    July 13, 2018

    Garcon first things first:

    1) Take back Coconut Products from Colgate Palmolive,,,

    2) Reopen Belfast!!!

    then allyou can come tell people about revitalizing the Coconut industry,,,

    The Thai people already saturated the market with Jelly Coconut Water so what allyou gonna come with to compete with them???

    What allyou have to come compete with them anyway!!!

    Stop fooling people nuh, just because Dominicans may not have access on Island doesn’t been that they don’t have a clew about world Markets you know,,,

    Do what allyou must do before making empty promises to them Farmers,,, Find a market for products before allyou come telling people to produce that product!!!

  3. bring our parrots back.
    July 13, 2018

    What about coffee? Dominica used to grow a lot of coffee. Back in the 1950’s and 1960’s Dominica had some of the best tasting coffee in the world. It should be grown for export.

  4. Akbar ali
    July 13, 2018

    Very useful information.

  5. %
    July 12, 2018

    Ricky you are a fantastic square peg in round hole…The focus of your DLP regime was never on agriculture,let alone for coconuts.Your focus was for DLP to remain in power.Thats why your record/achievement in this job is do dismal.Shame on you brother.Do you still walk about with the red shirt like Chavez???
    Where the wicked rule,the people mourn..This DLP is a wicked and evil party

  6. Ibo France
    July 12, 2018

    Dominica is truly blessed with plenty of arable land, copious rainfall, and an abundance of sunshine. Some will submit that if you spit through your window, a tree will grow. For the last eighteen years, lands strictly for agricultural production should have been leased to serious individual farmers and farmer’s cooperatives. It should have been organized in such a way that some farmers grow strictly vegetables, some strictly fruits and others engaged in animal husbandry. Then develop a striving agro-processing industry from some of the produce. Where there is no vision the people perish. All the Skerrit-led regime focuses on is how to win the next general elections. They spend an inordinate amount of time eliciting monies from shady campaign donors They also carefully scrutinize the electoral system for loopholes they can exploit for political advantageousness The people’s welfare and wellbeing are of no serious consequence to these unscrupulous men of straw.

  7. Karl Orndem
    July 12, 2018

    I have been listening to these people talk about coconuts for years but yet nothing. I always say government is the biggest land owner here in Dominica. why doesnt government designate a portion of agricultural land, lets say 5 or 10 acres specifically for coconuts. Had they planted 4,5,6 years ago we may be in a much much better position. Coconut oil is huge business, whether virgin or otherwise, coconut buttter, and other coconut products. We are always the best talk shop in the Caribbean, but the worst when it comes to taking action. Ricky Brumant i am not surprised, you are another talker. I expect nothing from you guys.

  8. DA fails
    July 12, 2018

    My boy you there for how much years and that’s all you have to say offer? Did it take you decades to come up with that likkle idea…? What r we paying these guys for :arrow: :!: :!:

  9. Shaka Zulu
    July 12, 2018

    Ricky can you tell me how much revenue you have generated from the practice of agriculture within last 20 years. Where have you been. I have been trying for years to get stats on coconut production and crop population for a particular business venture but to no avail. You guys are a sprry bunch and waste of time.

    • DA fails
      July 12, 2018

      It take him 20 years of eating tax payers money to think of that one small thing… In de next 20 years he’ll tell us about we need to revitalize our banana industry LABORATTSSSS

  10. Neville
    July 12, 2018

    Better late than never. God help Dominica!

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