New phase for cassava production in Kalinago Territory coming

Foreign Affairs Minister Francine Baron (right) with her Colombian counterpart Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar

The Government of Colombia has agreed to assist in the cultivation of sweet cassava in the Kalinago Territory, Foreign Minister Francine Baron has said.

She spoke during a visit to Dominica by Colombia’s Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar on Friday.

She stated that residents of the Kalinago Territory have been growing the traditional bitter variety of cassava for generations but recently the value of cultivating the sweet variety was realized.

“We are therefore pleased that our Colombian friends have agreed to assist with the expansion of the new variety of cassava in the Kalinago Territory,” Baron stated. “This has been done successfully in Jamaica and much of the training for Kalinago farmers and technicians will be undertaken in Jamaica. The hope is that the Kalinago experience will be used for the introduction of the new variety throughout the island.”

She said it was agreed that people in Jamaica who have successfully worked in the cassava industry can come to Dominica to share their experience and expertise.

“We expect to benefit greatly from that experience,” Baron noted.

She said discussions were held for establishing a cassava processing plant in the Kalinago Territory.

“We have also discussed cooperation with Colombia for the establishment of a cassava processing plant using Colombian technology,” Baron stated. “This will allow us to significantly upgrade cassava processing capacity in the Territory, allowing for improved productivity and hence the export of not only farine and cassava bread but also of cassava flour, cassava mash, and other products.”

Meanwhile, Cuellar said those involved in cassava cultivation in Colombia will be coming to the Kalinago Territory ‘very soon’ and they will also help in the marketing process of cassava products.

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22 Comments

  1. Beet
    March 27, 2018
  2. prophet for a profit
    March 26, 2018

    About time. Just a shame it always takes foreigners to come in and make the changes. I just hope my fellow kalinagos in the territory will be appreciative and receptive of this. In this picture i see a Hispanic and a black. There should be a kalinago sitting right along side the delegates, whether the parl rep or the chief or even a leading cassave producer. i am hoping this project is not one that is imposed on the people, otherwise it may go in vain

    • March 28, 2018

      Dominicans don’t really understand what democracy is all about you a correct that a representative from the Kalinago Territory should be seated at the table with the two ladies we always do thing backward . Kalinago knows more about cassava they should be the ones showing and teaching outsiders when they come visiting .

  3. J.John Charles
    March 25, 2018

    There is a cassava I am buying here in the U.S. and it’s cooked the same way like dasheen and other provisions.Before coming here the only thing I knew was the farin and the cassava bread which I didn’t like anyway.
    So let’s not be too negative,best we wait and see.there is nothing harmful in knowing more about cassava

  4. R J Charles
    March 25, 2018

    While the taste and texture of our local cassava bread may be unsurpassed by similar cassava products, we should not rule out the opportunity to learn from other countries.

    Cassava accounts for about 30% of the starchy root crops consumed worldwide. Central and South American countries like Colombia have a long history of growing, consuming and processing both the sweet and bitter varieties of cassava. Unlike bitter cassava, sweet cassava contains less cyanide and can be consumed without further processing. Hence its potential for export as a fresh product as well as processing for starch and baked products.

    Sweet cassava may offer the Kalinago people ( and other communities) the opportunity to expand their product line. That may not be a bad thing!

    • boi
      March 27, 2018

      some of us accept anything the government gives…..from what i know production is demand driven….how many people in Dominica consumes sweet cassava….how many people in Dominica eats boil cassava…Any form of processing reduces cyanide/ hydrocyanic acid content in cassava….Should do your research…the bitter form of cassava which we produce is the best form for processing and starch content which is used in baking and various products. If we were talking about introducing the sweet varieties for consumption by the public would have taken this more seriously as an economic driver……stop drinking that red kool aid man…smh…..before talk about the cyanide content should know its use…like jamaica which only produces the sweet variety….all based on use…they only eat boil cassava…

  5. UDOHREADYET
    March 24, 2018

    Also looking at he seriousness on Minister Barons face i think she agrees that DOMINICA already has a better product!

  6. UDOHREADYET
    March 24, 2018

    I agree that the Caribs have done this for many generations and that we should look to the benefits of our variety of kassava versus others. If everyone else is producing sweet then its more so beneficial to produce sour because we have one of a kind variety thats not produced anywhere else in the world. we also have the historical value and experience which is PRICELESS.

  7. out of south city
    March 24, 2018

    Black people have been the keepers of the earth from time immemorable. We are the ones to teach others to plant instead of the other way around. It seems like the present administration has forgotten that planting and cultivating cassava has been a part of our brothers and sisters’ (the Kalinagos) lives in Dominica. It seems like the government is a “YES” government and everyone who wants to come to Dominica to experiment is allowed. The organic and fertile soil that we are blessed with will be contaminated by the outside world. We should take lessons from our Kalinago brethren and learn from them. We need to stop being dependent on the government, who is slowly selling our hearts away. We must stand in solidarity against all the corruption by the Skerrit administration.
    UNAPOLOGETIC

  8. Kalinago
    March 24, 2018

    Francine you are really out of place speaking on this matter. Was the Kalinago Minister present at this discussion? Kalinago matters are the business of the Kalinago Minister! you do not represent nor speak for the Kalinago people! Know your place!

  9. Ibo France
    March 24, 2018

    It’s always better to judge people by their deeds and not by their words. Most politicians say things, make grandiose promises to sway public opinion in their favor. They can’t resist the temptation of making promises they know that they cannot keep. A politician would promise to build a bridge where there is no river nor ravine. In many Caribbean territories, the people think than foreign is better or superior. Many times we have the requisite skills, knowledge, human resources, and ingenuity to do for ourselves. This present government does nothing to stimulate the creative and innovative juices of its people by creating the relevant opportunities for them to tap into their God-given abilities and capabilities. Presently, Dominica relies too much on foreign donors and entities. When these sources dry up, what happens next? The prevailing trend doesn’t augur well for the future of the country. The country badly needs a visionary leader with strategic plans.

  10. John
    March 24, 2018

    What about growing coffee, coffee was once grown on Dominica on a largo scale in the 1800’s and early 1900’s when Dominica was a colony of Britain. Locally grown Dominica coffee is delicious. Another benefit of coffee the plants are more wind resistant than bananas. Eugenia Charles talked about coffee cultivation when she was PM.

  11. My bad
    March 23, 2018

    Once election coming all Skerrit and the first lady doing is look for ways to fool those poor Caribs . Last Election it was Skerrit’ and Ashton Graneau that outlined a plan where Manyok (cassava) would be sold for $1.25 a pound and the Caribs would be able to export their cassava bread. Did any of that take place? Then at another meeting Skerrit told the Caribs he was going to give them a holiday starting in 2015. Did that happen? Actually he even promised to to pay all high school and college fees for them. Did that happen? Man it hurts me to see how Skerrit has impoverished the Caribbean people with lies and more lies and they not seeing that.

  12. km
    March 23, 2018

    where are all the government advisers na….What a foolish move from the so called educated….if they talking about processing think they should do some research first….And dont think the kalinagoes need help or further expertise for what they have been doing for centuries…..And before they sought the help of Jamaica think they should compare the utilization of cassava in Jamaica and in Dominica and understand the reasons why sweet cassava is mostly grown in da….Bunch of educated fools making taking the public for a ride..

    • km
      March 23, 2018

      ****correction why sweet cassava is mostly grown in JA….

  13. March 23, 2018

    This is nonsense. People have always planted casava all their lives, they don’t need these people to teach them anything at all.These people are going to introduce chemicals to this form of agriculture. They will take from the plants and pretend that it is for scientific researchers in order to have the types of cassava plants in quantity to sell to other countries to make more than the Dominican people will do. Give them the plants and let them deal with it.The government isn’t doing that for free.There will be the negative surprise on the back of it. What is taking place now is to preserve ballots for the most corrupted.

  14. MR DOMINICA
    March 23, 2018

    I TOO Question why do they need help to grow and manufacture cassava as they have been doing this for years if not centuries. this brings us to the question of when will Dominica stop being the world’s welfare recipient? Every day ”we are getting from China ,then Caracas , even a hospital from MEXICO where people get killed walking in the jungle to reach the U S A to make a living. when will we stop hearing words from politicians like quote OUR DONATING PARTNERS? Reading about the return of ross university one must wonder what happens to the portsmouth area if they decide not to return Dominica? When will stop seeing young men sitting on the road day after day doing nothing but smoke ,drink and sometimes steal to fulfill there habit

  15. Roger Burnett
    March 23, 2018

    I doubt that any other country could better the taste and texture of the cassava bread made by the Kalinagos. Perhaps we should be sending our experts to help them!

    To my mind it is not so much a new strain of cassava that is needed, but international promotion and innovative ways of using the product.

  16. March 23, 2018

    This should not be limited only to the Caribe reserve it should be Island wide.

    • Pondering
      March 23, 2018

      Excuse md. Its no longer Carib reserve. Its now known as Kalinago Territory.

  17. zandoli
    March 23, 2018

    Will this be the as successful as the coffee processing plant, the abattoir and all the other venture where the government wasted precious resources?

    I don’t mean to be negative, but when I read these announcements, I view them with a large dose of skepticism.

  18. anonymous2
    March 23, 2018

    They have been raising cassava in the Kalinago territory for a long time, why to they suddenly need this invasion of “experts”?

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