Agricultural officials here say Dominica is positioning itself to make maximum use of funds being made available to ten banana-exporting nations by the European Union.
The European Commission’s BAM (Banana Accompanying Measures) programme’s funding of 190 million Euros is intended to provide additional development assistance to help the countries involved adjust to new market conditions, following the erosion of the preferential market access that was previously enjoyed by the Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) group of countries in Europe.
Dominica expects to receive during 2012 and 2013, between 14 and 15.5 million Euros from the programme.
Director of Agriculture Ricky Brumant says under the BAM arrangement, Dominica will seek to make its banana production and exports more competitive, while focusing on other areas of agriculture as well.
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector were meeting on Tuesday, to help ensure that “what we say we are going to do with the money is going to bring to the country maximum benefits”.
Brumant said also that another priority would be to “place the agricultural sector, the banana sub-sector, on a plain that we can enhance competitiveness and of course move our non-banana programmes or crop programmes, production programmes to a level to where it can ensure that we are competitive not only on the regional market but also the international market”.
The agriculture official says the BAM funds being allocated to Dominica will make a significant difference.
“From a government standpoint enhancing trade is important, ensuring food security is important, these are some of the broad areas that we will look at,” Brumant said.
He confirmed that a substantial amount of the available funds is expected to go to the banana industry, to make it more competitive.
“I cannot tell you now how much would go into bananas. I can tell you that we are prepared to ensure the right production mix between banana and non-banana crops,” the Director of Agriculture told Dominica News Online.
It is silly NOT to know WHAT portion will be allocated to the banana sector!!!!This shows a most serious LACK OF PLANNING and this must stop now.The more significant amount should go towards ensuring that those farmers who are capable of producing over ten tons an acre. The irrigation systems that are currently being underutilised at Castle Bruce and Melvillehall (Caem Bouc)must be made to function at full trottle. For those who cant meet the 20 ton mark, they must be provided with imputs for the production of root croops and the lifestock section mus also be allowed to take its rightful place so that the money which is currently exported (some 130 million dollars annually) remains in Dominica to support the tourism industry. But what is most important, the population once engaged fully in banana production must be kept ON THE LAND so as to aviod depopulation of the countryside, overpopulation of the cities and guarantee our food security. Let us not fool ourselves: the hard times are really coming
HOTEP
This money is like12 years over due, i guess its like the old people say better late than never.
i never see ppl geting money but not sure about what they going to do with it… like year after year that same money is recieved and nuthing is done in the industry.. where is that money going.. one year itc’s/ or ict’s how ever it goes… the other in the big men pockets.. give some of that to the poor ppl and allow and their families a bit of freedom
Did you read the article, you people just have
To much time on your hands.I think the story said
They don’t know how much of the money will
Go to the banana industry.stuuuuuupes.
Read befor you comment.
Are you serious? Banana was a dead industry because of the slum USA dogs who have chiquita and Dole Bannans. We need to look into creating products from bannana.
i like ur comment ur right the money never reaches into the agriculture sector no one knows what ever happens to it i know bananas dead long time but what happen to other produce we make mmoney does not go into them either where is the money goign what is the money being used for who getting those funds there can someone shed light on that?
i wish the farmers and agricultural officials godspeed,do you all best and stake a claim on this banana and agricultural market,we fell backwards for to long,we got very good soil,in fact the best,and so the best should be the best in all aspects.