Drigo reports growth in banana, plantain sub sectors

Drigo said there has been growth in the banana sub sector

Agriculture Minister, Johnson Drigo, has revealed that the Banana and Plantain Sector has experienced a fourteen percent growth over the fiscal year 2016/2017.

Speaking recently he also said there has been growth in the production of other crops, which he described as “remarkable.”

“Yams, potatoes, tania, dasheen, cucumber, pumpkin and vegetables grew by ten percent. This is also remarkable; we are seeing tangible results with the collaboration between the Ministry of Trade, DEXIA, the Bureau of Standards, the Hucksters Association and our supermarket outlets,” he said.

He highlighted supermarkets and street corner vendors as the “major pushers” of local produce.

“The supermarket outlets are one of the major pushers of local vegetables, any time you go into the supermarket, you will meet fresh produce: dasheen, plantains, bananas, you name it. Our ripeners, they are doing a very good job in ensuring that the persons who like their ripe bananas can get it on a regular basis, not only in the supermarkets but in the street corners,” Drigo stated.

He expressed satisfaction at the realization that progress is being made in the area of food security and the government is prepared to do the additional work that is needed to take advantage of the export markets.

He also noted that over $13-million has been set aside for the agricultural sector which, according to him, represents government’s commitment to farmers.

“This government committed to the exporters, to the entire sector, this government is trained in supporting agriculture, this government is putting its money where its mouth is,” he said.

Based on statistical data, Drigo noted that government’s investment into the sector for this fiscal year surpasses that of the fiscal year 2015/2016 by a long run and the budgetary allocation for the banana and plantain sub sector has almost doubled.

“So government has increased the budgetary allocation by almost 100 percent of the banana and plantain sub sector. I am saying to those of you who intend to stay in bananas, who intend to stay in plantains, prepare yourselves for hard work. However, your government has doubled the budget allocation for you and we will support you. That is why we have already given to the farmers who are serious,” he remarked.

For the year 2016/2017, fifty farmers have received assistance to upgrade their pack houses in order to meet certification standards which cost the government some $365,000 dollars, Drigo said.

 

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26 Comments

  1. lp
    August 14, 2017

    Don’t worry our pm will spend a few millions from the CBI to repair the reunion center for reunion 2018.

  2. Self
    August 14, 2017

    It’s costing tax payers more to run Dexia than what is exported, its a waste of time. I sold more plantains locally than the increase that dry, come is boasting about. Shame!

  3. Shameless
    August 14, 2017

    Mr. John-dont-know hopefully these bananas will be soft, tender and juicy like the chicken parts from the abattoir :mrgreen: :mrgreen: . Garson a-force- John-dont-know does enwahzhay me! :twisted: :twisted:

    Sir you have not given anything to serious farmers. All you do is give to labourites in exchange for votes while those who are serious sit and wait. But doh hurt your head brodder because next election you will be back in your shop in Glu-Gloo asking “what shall I do”. And yes, go fix the reunion center for next year because all those coming down expect it done.

    Assertive like the rod of Moses! :twisted:

    • August 15, 2017

      At least he have shop what you have e not going g nowhere. But you you will be still by d road side. Begging

  4. August 14, 2017

    If you so concern do something about./

  5. NKRUMAH KWAME
    August 14, 2017

    Mr. Drigo, what foolishness are you spewing??? Where can I find this information?? We learnt at school that percentages WITHOUT NUMBERS do NOT mean anything. If last year we exported one pallet of bananas and this year two pallets, our export percentage for this year will be a WHOPPING 100%. Got it? So please tell me WHERE I can find this information.
    HOTEP!

  6. It's My damn business
    August 14, 2017

    Mr. Drigo we don’t want to hear your joke about agriculture and growth at this time. What we want to hear about now is, the whereabouts of PM Roosevelt Skerrit, who seem to have left Dominica the very same Sunday Morning, the five young men from his constituency perished in in a tragic car accident. Mr. Drigo, it is IMPERITIVE that we know where the PM is at this time. I was at the accident scene that morning from about 7:30 am, and minister Roselyn Paul who was at the sight told us that PM is on his way; so a week later, where is he? He was supposed to have given a “special address” during the candle vigil but he was a NO SHOW! Where is the PM? All we are hearing is that he is overseas. After all, Penville is his stronghold and all five young men that perished were his supporters, and make it worse, they died in his own village of Vielle case and yet he has not appeared to give comfort? Where could he be and what could he be doing that is more important than being in Penville?

  7. %
    August 14, 2017

    Mr Drigo how many pallets of bananas did we exported in 2016? And to where?
    How many have we exported in 2017?
    How many tonnes of fish have we exported Mr Drigo?
    You told us how the chicken from the abattoir would be SWEET and TENDER. How many heads of FOO FOO, or SEE KEY YEAR have we slaughtered at the abattoir Mr Drigo?
    You ARE THE WORST minister OF agriculture IN THE Commonwealth and maybe the World has even seen or heard of. Were you deliberately placed in this position?
    SKERRIT MUST GO
    SKERRIT MUST GO
    SKERRIT MUST GO NOW

    • Emile Dominique
      August 14, 2017

      @ %, aka Rose Valley, aka Ronald B Charles, friend of Borgaroy and Kenneth Rijerk… you are such a wise man. You know every Agricultural Minister, past present and future in the world, and in Dominica.
      You are so smart. So why don’t you tell us and the world the Agriculture stats so we can appreciate your honesty. Or are you just blowing bubbles like your Judas goat leader.

      • Emile Dominique
        August 14, 2017

        Oh yes, Skerrit must stay. The Rt Hon Dr Rosevelt Skerrit has a Phd in staying power (17 years),3 elections, and no wanabe one term party led by a Judas Goat with a diplomatic passport can change that.
        He castigated diplomatic passports from here to eternity, but was brandishing one like a flag in Guyana to a heads of government conference which he was not invited to, and to which he was not entitled to attend. Can we now add “INTERNATIONAL MOPPER and EXPERT GATE CRASSHER” to his other titles. I am just asking since you are his publicist, main adviser and official Care Taker of the UWP-rites.

      • %
        August 15, 2017

        @Emile Zapato..When will you stop bursting your blood vessel for Skerrit?Where is Skerrit right now Emile Zapato?Will he have a press conference when he returns Emile Zapato?I am so happy that you are reading my blogs Emile Zapato.
        SKERRIT MUST GO
        SKERRIT MUST GO
        SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!

    • %
      August 14, 2017

      OOPS. did we export!

      • Emile Dominique
        August 16, 2017

        @ % , aka Rose Valley, , friend of Borgaroy and Keneth Rijerk. You can call me whatever name you want, no problems. Because a rose by any other name is still a rose. I will still remain myself, and you will still be the coward hiding under Linton’s dress posing as a maths sign(%) trying to be relavant and significant. You want to see yourself as two zeroes (o/o) between a line that is fine with me . I am not Skerrit’s keeper, and I have no relationship with him so if you want to know where he is ask him or his public relations officer. So why do you want to know where he is. Do you want to exercise a security threat, are you planning a sabotage or an other terrorist D Day ( day of death). Or you want your Judas goat to follow him to Guyana again. Is that why he led a gang to China because you all thought Skerrit would be there. Is that why he lied to say the head of government of China invited him.
        Wake up and smell the “SKERRIT MUST STAY ON” say it loud.

    • August 14, 2017

      Get up your lazy behind and start to do something for yourself stop waiting for things to come and meet you stop blaming d minister for your downfall

      • %
        August 15, 2017

        Thats why I hire the minister.To do my work well.If he cant do it,and he DEFINITELY CANT,then he is under fire from me..Sorry if you cant take that.
        SKERRIT MUST GO
        SKERRIT MUST GO
        SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!

    • Shameless
      August 14, 2017

      :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: He cannot answer that at all. That man is a total waste of time. Even Foo Foo and See-Key-Yea laughing at mister so how will he catch them to keep the abattoir alive? :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

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

    • %%%
      August 14, 2017

      Are you retarded? I know some moron like you would come up with negativity!
      Skerrit will stay!
      Skerrit will stay!
      Skerrit will stay for as long as he wish!

      • Emile Dominique
        August 16, 2017

        Sir, Please do not call him by his first name, “MORON”. He is smart to develop a negative mind. But the old saying is……a negative mind results in a negative life. A life full of double zeroes . So Mr Zerro want to add a new name to his %, Ronald B Charles and Rose Valley . Like his master Mr. Judas Goat or his friends Borgaroy and Kenneth Rijerk he is only giving confirmation and determination to “SKERRIT MUST STAY ON” movement.
        Now he wants to fire ministers of government. He is so intelligent and powerful… like his Judas Goat leader said “powerful I have so”. Remember the gang gave the government 14 days to quit, then destroy peoples property, stole guns and threatened to burn down Roseau…THE GREAT MORONS posing as patriots.

      • Shat Mamaw
        August 16, 2017

        Hahahaha oh my them man like a box of cockroaches.

    • August 14, 2017

      Nothing is happening in Dominica. It is starvation and famine, employment is at 99%, no electricity, no medical facilities, no roads and we could go on but Dominica no longer exists. That is the picture people like you continue to paint of Dominica only negative comments and gloom and doom. Be careful what you wish for.

  8. Shaka Zulu
    August 14, 2017

    When you at zero one bunch sold is growth.

    • Shaka Zulu
      August 14, 2017

      I meant to add also the next year if you sell two bunches that’s 100% increase in banana sales. Outstanding eh!!!!!!

  9. Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
    August 14, 2017

    What about the fishing sector and sub fishing sector? What’s the rate of increase this year compared to last year? With so many free ice machines flying around, we should be exporting approximately two million pounds of fish this year to overseas markets. :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P

    • August 14, 2017

      Why can’t you buy a boat and go out to fish help brining in d catch you just stand up by d roadside smoking and still begging from those who go out there and catch d fish. LAZY

    • ATKINSON
      August 15, 2017

      Hey the ice machine come in handy for fete’s and parties, the crush ice keep the beers and soda very cold. so they so serve some of us country people good :mrgreen:

  10. Sextus
    August 14, 2017

    Mr. Drigo,

    Isn’t the state of the Reunion Centre in Castle Bruce a cause of concern to you????
    It is to me!!!!
    Its an eye sore!

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