Drigo calls for a return to agriculture

Drigo said now is a good time to return to agriculture

Minister for Agriculture, Johnson Drigo, has again encouraged farmers to return to agriculture as now is the most opportune time to do so.

Speaking at one of the town hall meetings held recently, Drigo said that now is the time to go back to agriculture as more and more markets are increasing their demand for produce from Dominica.

He said that despite the many challenges, measures have been put in place to enhance produce for export.

“Of course we have had our challenges. We all had our challenges with Black Sigatoka. We have had our challenges with the quality that we sent out, but we are saying now that all of the infrastructures are in place to ensure that when a product leaves Dominica, it is the best quality and it is properly labeled, properly weighed and is heading out to some of the best markets out there,” he said.

Drigo appealed to young people, telling them that the Ministry of Agriculture is ready and willing to assist them.

“We are ready and willing to give you the support that you need. Come up with your plans, let us know what you are interested in, we will send you to the right officers in the Ministry to work with you,” Drigo stated.

He added that regardless of the venture, the Ministry is ready to assist with the production processes.

“Whether it’s fishing, whether is tree crop, whether it’s coffee, whether it’s cocoa, whatever you are interested in, the Ministry is ready to help you to go into production my dear people, not only for food security, but we want to go into expanding the export market to meet the demands that we have,” he remarked.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

31 Comments

  1. April 6, 2017

    People too laid back, and lazy these days. In times like before we had no choice. All my parents’ children had to farm. The boys took on the ground provisions, and the girls handled the seasoning and small crops. And we did it not only because we had to eat, but because it was fun to go farm with daddy and mammy. Now, all these processed food we import killing us slowly.

  2. April 6, 2017

    Subsistence farming, marine aquaculture and fishing is where plenty money lie down. We should work on winning back the title ‘bread basket of the Caribbean’.

    • Anthony P. Ismael
      April 7, 2017

      Why should we engage in such practices, when we have the “Red Clinic?”

  3. April 6, 2017

    We need to go back to the soil, but our youth are not adequately encouraged to get into farming. Most are lazy and believe they are not cut out for toiling soil.

  4. John Jay
    April 6, 2017

    I’m asking myself before this man came into government what was he doing especially he is from this agricultural community.
    I got a question for him. Do you have a farm or even a garden because you want to tell us return to agriculture. Before you being in government, whenever I would come to Castle Bruce is by the.shop close to the credit union you would chatting with the guys and them and looking for the next move. So my call to.you start the process and we will follow in agriculture.

  5. dressing like freaks and they call it fleek
    April 6, 2017

    It is time to automate our agricultural practices. the chinse up at one mine have allll their equipment. to dig to plant to harvest. Meanwhile we still struggling here with pick axe, cutlass and garden fork. Off course it will be hard work in sun that seems to be getting hotter and hotter by the year. On the other hand we have allowed haitians to take advantage of our local produce markets because we dont want to toil in the soil n dirty ourselves too much.

    • dressing like freaks and they call it fleek
      April 7, 2017

      *Chinese set up at one mile, has all their equipment*

  6. Basin Michell
    April 6, 2017

    Why did we turn our back on agriculture?

    The wealthiest nations on earth prosper on the soil; and it is a known fact, he/she who works the soil controls the wealth.

    In everything in life you win some and you lose some, but you have to keep going. for it only takes one seed to make a billion dollars.

    There are many types one seed in Dominica, rich volcanic soil, 365 rivers, all year round sunshine, healthy able bodies, wasting and rotting food of all varieties, why, oh why, are Dominicans crying poverty and unemployment?

    Dominicans are walking the paved road of prosperity, however, they are allowing themselves to be blinded by party, colours, personalities and politics.

    This is the age of the internet, use it as a tool to educate yourselves, to uplift yourselves, to prosper yourselves. Wake up Dominicans! Leve Dominichens! Leve!

    o for from the work of the soil all other forms

  7. Jonathan Y St Jean
    April 6, 2017

    Drigo the question is why did agriculture find itself on the back burner in the first place,that now, after 17 years plus,you have to exhort the country to let’s return to agriculture.What do you and your government have to show for all those years of neglect.What incentives and carrots are you offering to help the farming community get back to agriculture.Your empty words and rhetoric is insufficient.If your government keeps throwing mud against a wall some will eventually stick but that’s not how national development is done

  8. 1979
    April 6, 2017

    RETURN TO AGRICULTURE???? OK…SO why allu doe want to sell the land for me to open my farm at York Farm Salisbury??? allu jus a set of hypocrites, but I going to get to the BOTTOM of it.. WHO want the land at YORK FARM for themselves.. dat one say gov’t, policy, that one say is the PS…finger pointing toupatou…but yall ain’t met one like me yet

  9. LifeandDeath
    April 6, 2017

    Dominica could be much further in Agriculture, but the attitude to build and seriously support Agriculture has deteriorated significantly under this current administration.

    Back to the soil is definitely the way to move Dominica forward..

  10. DRASTIC
    April 6, 2017

    Very good. Markets available, so give us extension service and quality inspectors to maintain the markets

  11. viewsexpressed
    April 6, 2017

    Drigo confirms that: “Of course we have had our challenges. We all had our challenges with Black Sigatoka..”
    ……..and that Black Sigatoka is the corrupt Labour government on going disease of political corruption, poor governance, incompetent ministers, inept Prime Mininister, corrupt labour government, those are the reality is the state of this county created by this PM and is corrupt Labour government.
    Drigo, please wake up and be real, the ore we hear from you the more we are sorrow of your association with Skerrit, not a good role model for anyone wishing to get involved in politics. Sad to had to mix up with these incompetent associates. Castle Bruce is still struggling.

    • Tjebe fort
      April 6, 2017

      St. Lucia has black sikatoka, Martinique has black sikatoka, Guadeloupe has black sikatoka but hey are all busy exporting bananas. Is Dominica alone that is cursed? Be honest Drigo, the people in your Ministry are incompetent and not held to account.

  12. anonymous2
    April 6, 2017

    When the youth has no interest in agriculture, there is no future in it for them. They don’t understand that agriculture is the basis of DA. They are too busy being mesmerized with the electronic devices to care. That is the direction of the educational system.

  13. Long Lost Dominica
    April 5, 2017

    why should we return to Agriculture when Skerrit giving us? am confused, plans changed?

  14. Flipside
    April 5, 2017

    I think we would all like Mr Drigo to join the movement and return to agriculture too.

  15. Hope
    April 5, 2017

    Drigo, I thought you said ” Agriculture is doing well and alive ” . Now you are calling on farmers to return to their farms. Please start with the Castle Bruce Estate and go fix Salisbury farm road for the farmers to return to their farms.

  16. Shaka Zulu
    April 5, 2017

    That guy looks like he has no clue about anything. I bet he does not remember the last word he said

  17. Shameless
    April 5, 2017

    And here goes the Hon. John-dont-know again blah-blahing ! So long Randy, Mr.Louis and Patrick begging for them man to go back to the soil and they ignoring them. Even labeling them as enemies of the state. Now mister wake up from his slumber and coming here mahmoetaying. Garson a-force mister does enwhazhay me eh!

    Assertive like the rod of Moses! :twisted: :twisted:

  18. %
    April 5, 2017

    John Dont Know is at it again..Your wicked government have killed agriculture..Wicked leaders.
    SKERRIT MUST GO!
    SKERRIT MUST GO!!
    SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!!
    Go with him,John Dont Know!

  19. Fake News
    April 5, 2017

    So Drigo you finally agreed that agriculture disappeared because in other for something to return it had to be gone or lost. But the big questions​are, where did agriculture go to? Who sent it away or hurt it? We need the return of agriculture but as long as Skerrit is pm, agriculture will stay where he is because if agriculture we’re back Skerrit would not be able to go from village to village distributing money for votes because agriculture money would come directly to the hands of farmers for them to use as they wish, unlike CBI MONEY that is in the hands of the pm so he could use ONLY for his personal business. You know that, Skerrit knows that, UWP supporters know that but unfortunately most Skerritites don’t know that.

  20. d-a born
    April 5, 2017

    Where’s the incentive to do so? Willing to assist them with pointless seminars? How about creating links to different markets and other means of building a strong revenue stream from agriculture?

    All talk from these politicians once again.

  21. yes
    April 5, 2017

    Boy Drigo, it wasn’t you that said the other day that agriculture is booming in Dca? This is not an agricultural country anymore. Everyone knows that. When you talk it’s like you are living some imaginary country.

  22. knowledgeable
    April 5, 2017

    Drigo when I see the Castle Bruce Stretch covered with eggs planted on both sides, i will agree with you but until then you are just a joker.

  23. Antony P. Ismael
    April 5, 2017

    I am waiting for the report on fish exports Drigo. Maybe they still counting fish exports at the agricultural department.

  24. Antony P. Ismael
    April 5, 2017

    “Drigo said that now is the time to go back to agriculture as more and more markets are increasing their demand for produce from Dominica.” I know that the PM studied English at University and he’s probably writing Drigo’s speech for him too.

    The PM spoke about a “Top Secret Location” for the new airport. Robbie said that two airlines would be servicing Dominica soon, but named only one and now Drigo spoke about “Markets” demanding Dominica’s produce, but couldn’t name one. I need an update about our fish exports for the year so far. How many pounds have we expected for the first quarter, so far Johnson? :-P :-P :-P

  25. Dan is de man in de Van
    April 5, 2017

    Drigo. I have one question . How are you and your ministry going to assist Dominican farmers to be successful. If you can’t come up with one intelligent solution u should fire yourself from your post immediately. Stop fooling the people of Dominica stop it,,,

  26. April 5, 2017

    Fix the feeder roads for the farmers ,don’t arrest them for expressing there right’s to demonstrate.

  27. Lang Mama
    April 5, 2017

    How come Drigo eyelids look so heavy nuh. Just like Collin McIntyre said ” in excess of slmost half” Drigo is saying the “best market out there”
    Whst fies he mean by the best market. I know if I ask Drigo i will walk away with an answer from out a space

    • LifeandDeath
      April 6, 2017

      Hahahaha…funny!!

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available