Abandoned greenhouses a concern for IICA

Technical Specialist for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Kent Coipel has said that his institute and the government is aiming to revitalise a number of abandoned greenhouses around the island.

Coipel, who spoke at a greenhouse training workshop this morning, said research shows that there are a number of abandoned greenhouses around the country.

“We also noted from work done with the division of agriculture, the abandonment of green houses. So the ministry with IICA is presently looking at persons engaged in greenhouse production, trying to identify some of the problems because we have quite a few abandoned greenhouses on island,” Coipel said.

“So we would like to see some of these green houses return to production, as well as the improvement of productivity under these greenhouses because green house production is really a high capital investment. It’s not like clearing a piece of land and planting a commodity. You’re putting a large investment before we even plant the crop or commodity,” he told the gathering.

Coipel said that one of IICA’s priorities is to ensure that persons investing in greenhouses are aware of the relevant technologies and management techniques needed to effectively manage them.

“So we would first and foremost…ensure that persons making the investment in greenhouses are using the appropriate technology and is managing the resources to ensure that they get the best out of the investment. Because we do know that greenhouse technology certainly enhances productivity in agriculture,” he said.

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10 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    June 25, 2011

    hope this succeed, dominica need it

  2. Tete Morne
    October 28, 2010

    The personnel in the agricultural are as responsible for the state of greenhouse farming as the farmers. After the hurricanes, materials were donated to help greenhouse farmers, but only those with friends in the botonical gardens got any assistance. All others only got promises.
    Farmers made several trips to the gardens to ask for assistance without success although you could see the covering materials and others outside of the office.

  3. Annonymous Reader
    October 28, 2010

    @Cyril Volney: Mr. Volney, you should call the IICA, number should be listed in the telephone directory. Love your blog by the way.

  4. Thusday's
    October 28, 2010

    We are so quick to criticise that I wonder if we would notice something good if it was staring us in the face.

  5. Cyril Volney
    October 28, 2010

    Where can I buy an abandoned greenhouse? Are they portable? Phone 767-225-2008

  6. FIRE
    October 28, 2010

    @ALAS, YOU GOT MY POINT ON THE MATTER.THAT IS WHAT COMMUNICATION IS ABOUT.NOW AL-ASS MAKE A COMMENT TO HELP OUR COUNTRY.IT IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO CAN SPELL FRAUD ABONDON THOSE GREEN HOUSES.

  7. Farmer
    October 27, 2010

    Where was IICA all along? We do not hear you or feel your pulse. Were Agricultural Science teachers (especially those preparing students for CXC) invited? I am sorry but I am not impressed with IICA.

  8. Gods child
    October 27, 2010

    is this workshop only for abandon greenhouse farmers.I saw the news fortage on marpin and i hardly saw a productive greenhouse farmer.I also went an extra mile and spoke to some productive greenhouse farmers in the south and central agricultural region and they only heard about this workshop on DBS news,so how the hell you all expect agriculture to move on when those who are puting the little effort that they have into it are not being invited so as to encourage them and to keep them abreast with first hand technology.because it is those farmers that should also be present to encourage those that have fall by the wayside to get up.Bro it hurts to see the way
    agriculture is being led,no vision, no plan.MOA/extension better can be done!

  9. ALAS
    October 27, 2010

    @FIRE: D+++ you need to go back to primary school. DO’NT…OPERTUNITY…

  10. FIRE
    October 27, 2010

    WHY DO’NT YOU GUYS FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THESE OPERTUNITY??????????

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