Improve efficiency in banana production – Emmanuel

General Manager of Dominica Agricultural Producers and Exporters Limited (DAPEX) Errol Emmanuel wants local banana farmers to step up their efficiency after the European parliament approved a deal to reduce taxes on the fruit from Latin American.

Under the new accord, the European Union (EU) is cutting import duties on Latin American bananas from US$262 a tonne to US$170 over the next seven years thus making its purchase of Latin American bananas much cheaper.

Because the European Union is the biggest market for bananas globally, this means other banana suppliers like Dominica will have to work much harder to get their produce sold to the EU.

“The focus, if we are going to continue in those markets, has to be on improving our efficiency in terms of our cost of operations and our overall yield in terms of output from the farm has to be much higher,” Emmanuel told DBS.

The EU imports more than 60 percent of its bananas from Latin America and only 20 percent from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

Dominica produces approximately five tonnes per acre on average and according to Emmanuel “in this global competitive environment, five tonnes per acre will not give you a chance in that hostile market”.

Emmanuel said that authorities will now have to take a closer look as to how they can soften the effects of the new EU deal on Caribbean bananas.

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18 Comments

  1. Precious
    February 10, 2011

    we should continue planting, and stressing on quality products. However, the answer lies in processing our agricultural products. We need a procesisng plant at home that will allow us to process the diverse agricultural products we have. Given the cyclical processes involved in production of these crops, we need to invest in storage mechanisms, that will allow us to preserve these goods when there is excess, in order to meet our market commitments.

    Furthermore, I believe that as a nation we should continue to focus on agriculture, because that’s what we are blessed with: good, fertile soil, but agricultural management is a must. Agriculture is a business. Offer incentives to the farmers, get them organized. Let’s focus on production!

  2. moreaction
    February 10, 2011

    that’s one of the few topics that generated positive discussion, more logistic and less politics, wish that could have been in most of the other topics. but yet again this is dominica.

  3. The truth
    February 10, 2011

    they dont just need to be more efficient but produce quality too. you must emphasis on quality because it will almost be a complete waste if the peoduce is not up to the quality that the EU expect. in some ways we could sho*t ourselves in our own foot.

    we need to educate our farmers about these countries. how they prey on quality and good service. then we can move forward. we in desperate need of agricultural courses in our schools. a part of everyday life. it sound pathetic but it is a fact. we should make agriculture courses compulsory as maths and english for all dominicans. even if it is not in the planting aspect but in the quality of product aspect. the theory. what people expect and how to deliver good service.

    who want to slate me on dno can go ahead but i know what i am saying is facts

    • Funny Guy
      February 11, 2011

      The truth, I hope nobody ‘slates’ you because what you are suggesting is good. If our economy is to depend on agri then we must learn about agri.

      I just think that in addition to what you have suggested, we need to consider some changes because we are hanging on to the wrong product, the wrong technolgoy, and the wrong market.

  4. Dubique767
    February 10, 2011

    In Central America, Asia, and Africa, the big banana growers have been experimenting (and have been successful) with growing bananas in giant green houses through genetic and transgenic engineering. Those boys have bananas trees growing in half the time as people who are planting using the traditional method. How can you compete with that? Move to something else…agricultural diversification…

    How can you compete with multi-billion dollar corporations who have the most powerful countries and leaders in their back pockets?

    • Homeboy
      February 10, 2011

      Well said Dubique. These countries have the flat land, technology, backing of rich corporations, there is no way we can compete. We have to look for alternatives ( processing, marketing and selling of innovative Dominican products to different markets).

      • Dubique767
        February 10, 2011

        People who have the foresight and recommendations is what we need in government and governmental agencies. When are you going to put your hat in the ring? I support your candidacy and nomination.

        • Homeboy
          February 11, 2011

          I can say the same for you. But I can’t be a politician. I could never lie to the people who put me in office. I used to be an extension officer and whenever they wanted me to give the farmers wrong information I would never comply. Always told the people the truth!!! Bellevue was one of my areas.

  5. Neutral
    February 10, 2011

    Alternative markets for our bananas might be the answer. This might have been explored, I am just suggesting this as an option. Processing our bananas and selling them as banana chips could be an option. This goes for all agricultural product, we have to think of new ways to market those products. Think outside the box, doing the same thing all the time and expecting a different result is insanity.
    On a visit to the US I saw “banana bush” being sold in food stores in Brooklyn. I am not saying selling banana leaves or banana chips will solve our problem. I am just saying we have to come up with new ideas to market our FOOD. The problem is not limited to how we grow the stuff but how we sell it when harvested. I remember being encouraged to plant plantains because there was this market, only to have it rot because only a few selected farmers got theirs sold. Let us give it some thought and come up with some creative ways to use those mountains, rivers and rich soil that God has blessed us with.

  6. Q
    February 10, 2011

    While every nation has moved from 100% manual farming DA is still do 100% manual farming. We been doing agri the same way our grandparent did it back in the days. So it pretty obvious we can’t keep up. It’s a known fact that DA is mountainous. Let use that as an advantage not as a disadvantage! Like the large nation let us bring technology into the agri!! Other nations wish if that they had mountains to help protect their crops from the natural elements. I been looking at DA and nothing have change in terms of technology. All I see is people complaining about DA terrain!!
    Here a hint
    Is DA the only mountainous place doing agri?

    • Homeboy
      February 10, 2011

      You are contradicting yourself. You stated that ” in Dominica there is still 100% manual farming”. You propose, I guess moving to mechanization of the banana industry. I may be an idiot but how do you propose using hills and valleys to Dominica’s advantage when it comes to growing bananas? If you have developed some innovative machinery that won’t topple on the steep slopes, then you will be a billionaire. Run off on slopes warrant terracing to avoid erosion; also fertilizer application is not so efficient due to the same run off pro lem; harvesting is more laborious on slopes.
      I do not want to be a pessimist but please inform
      Me where there is so much productive, cost effective farming in areas with the exact topography like Dominica.

      • Homeboy
        February 10, 2011

        And if you suggest drip irrigation then you need energy to overcome the gradient of the slopes. You still have to pump water from the valley floor up the slope. I am interested in your point of view, nonetheless.

    • Funny Guy
      February 11, 2011

      Dont ask the question. Answer it.

  7. LawieBawie
    February 10, 2011

    My sentiments exactly. I have always said that small scale farming is only good for feeding your own household and it is imposibble to do lage scale farming in Dominica bearing in mind our topography.

    • Q
      February 10, 2011

      Not true!!

  8. Homeboy
    February 10, 2011

    How much more efficient do you want the farmers to be? Dominica with all its’ hills and valleys CAN NEVER compete with Latin America, where they have vast expanses of flat acreages! I not am “economist” and I can tell you that the difference in the “economies of scale” makes growing bananas for export a losing venture.
    Diversification has been talked about for more than a decade, but in addition to that, we have to do more processing of our locally grown produce. Government needs to invest in the processing sector and the people need to embrace what is grown and produced locally.

    • Fortunate Circumstances:
      February 10, 2011

      Great point Homeboy, “Governments need to invest in processing sector.” However I want to add that it is also the responsibility of the opposition polititians, the intellectual elites in the disaspora who seem to know how to identify the problems and talk solutions, and private individuals all need to invest in processing industries. Remember high productivity economic developmeny and social stability of any nation lie in the hands of all abled citizens.

      • Homeboy
        February 10, 2011

        True.. All ( opposition Included). Mindset of country has to change too, we have to learn to embrace what is ours!

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