An Agriculture Policy Programme (APP), seeking to enhance capabilities of agriculture in eradicating poverty in CARIFORUM countries, got underway in Dominica on Monday
The APP is funded under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) between the European Commission (EC) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (ICCA), with partners Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the CARICOM Secretariat.
The ultimate aim is to ensure that small producers/ entrepreneurs, including women and youth are more effectively integrated into national, regional and international markets.
Specialist of IICA Dominica, Kent Coipel who was addressing the national kick off event, at held at the Fort Young Hotel on Monday, said the time frame estimated for the policy is about 45 months and the budget is 8.6-million Euros.
He mentioned, the overall objective is, “To contribute and enhance regional, both in the Caribbean and the pacific and inter-regional capabilities of the Agricultural sectors in eradicating poverty.”
He noted further that, the specific objectives is to increase the capabilities of the regional Agricultural Development Organizations of the Caribbean and Pacific regions to address the development needs of small holders in agriculture.
“And we see the ultimate goal to promote the development of small holders, both micro and small medium term enterprises through integration to local, national, regional and global markets,” he said.
According to him, there are some common challenges at all levels and the agriculture production in the Caribbean and Pacific countries faces similar challenges which includes, “issues of climate change, natural disasters, high food prices, small internal markets and resilience on a few export commodities…”
He noted that there are three major components of the APP.
“Policy and Strategy, which will be led by CARICOM, and its focus is on the action that supports an enabling efficient national coordinating regional policy environment” he explained. “Applied research, which is led by CARDI, focuses on building human capacity, improving stock of genetic material and transforming to climate smart agricultural systems, and Enterprise Development led by ICCA, focus on building capacities, instigating networking, enabling effective engagement with markets and supporting creation of enabling environment for small producers and entrepreneurs.”
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Harold Guiste who represented agriculture minister, Matthew Walter, said over the years CARDI and ICCA have provided valuable support to the farmers of Dominica and to the Minister of Agriculture.
According to Guiste, the agriculture ministry has found tremendous relevance in all of the interventions made by ICCA at various times.
“small producers/entrepreneurs, including women and youth are more effectively integrated into national, regional and international markets” This is hypocrisy as far as the European Union is concerned. As long as the European Union seals off its agricultural market while at the same time subsidizing exports of its surpluses to the amount that in some third world country a local farmer earning less than a dollar a day cannot compete and then gets … assistance from programs like the above this is a waste of money and it is playing on the gullibility of local officials, entrepreneurs and the EU voters at home!
My boy Kent. If anyone can’t spearhead such an initiative it is Kent…Smart man.
We will remember Eisenhower Douglas saying that since in 2007 a public agriculture policy program was suppose to be in place. He said that he does not knw why it did not happen but ” it is wage under the bridge” and we moving on from where we are. He said this last year and one week after making that Statement they send him away. Just like they discarded the short man president
It seem like every year there is an agriculture policy implementation . It now three consecutive years we have been hearing the same thing. The Douglas guy who is the economist started something last year and his tongue must have slip and they sent him packing to some other ministry. Mark you the man is a Doctorate Economist but They have Emmanuel Nanthan and Eddie Lambert advising. One is a food technician ad the other is a cricket enthusiast
After 15 years in Government the last three years have been spent trying to have an a working agriculture policy
The immediate past PS Dr. Douglas was eager to have an Ag Policy and Action plan completed BEFORE the easter holidays. Since he was replaced by Mr. Guiste no new word has ever been mentioned about completing the Agriculture Policy which was started how many years ago with technical assistance from the same IICA. Funny that we now talking about an Agriculture Policy Programme… what is that suppose to mean..
So is only now, less than 2 months before an election Skerrit and his cabal realized agriculture could eradicate poverty? After they willfully killed agriculture for 14 long years they finally admitting to their murderous policies on agriculture. Skerrit is only concerned about staying in power and he will say and do whatever it takes to protect his corrupt practices. For example, take a look at the persons he has filled key positions with and check where they are from:
1. Police Commissioner: Mr. Carbon: Vieille – Case
2.Director of Agriculture: Ricky Brumant – Vieille-case
3. Port Authority: Mr. Walter I guess- Vieille-Case
4. PS of ministry of health: Helen Royer – Vieille -case/Penville.
5. Labor Commissioner: Matthew Rossie Leblanc -Vieille case
All of the above were at one time schoolmates / classmates of Skerrit and apart from Ms. Royer and maybe Mr. leblanc, the others are not there because of qualification while all are there to protect Skerrit with his corrupt practices. No wonder all the above named positions are the worse sectors in Dominica, since they were not hired as engines of growth, but rather to help facilitate and cover the man’s corruption.
If you want a top job in the public service, then please be born in Vielle case, go to school with Skerritt and support Labour party. Great, just great. Dont you just love my country.
Ah Ha. There they are in the air-conditioned splendor of Fort Young, as usual, with all the snacks etc…..It should be held out in the field somewhere among the farmers.
By the time the consultants of the modern Caribbean bureaucratic bourgoise have peeled of most of the 8.6 million Euros in consultancy fees, writing reports, there wont be much left for the farmers. The new colonial masters at work.
A lot of the time them man just happy to get the money. A lot of them does have their own agenda. not saying thats the case, but so much money has flowed through dominica with these kinds of projects and nothing much comes out of it. For agriculture we need to really get serious, not just government but farmers too. we need to begin to take agribusiness serious and not just think about planting and harvesting, then looking for markets. Agriculture has to be carefully planned in relation to other industries like manufacturing and hotel tourism, even the entertainment ans services industry. All now bello cannot get peppers, local coffee and cocoa powder and stick producers cannot get enough coca and coffee to supply their growing demands. If our economy is to grow, all sectors must be allowed to grow simultaneously. Its like a body, your arms and chest alone cannot be growing and your legs not doing anything. The Min of agriculture needs to follow the model that the chinese used in one mile and have proper machinery to make your farming techniques more modern. Make farming more attractive for young people who can see the benefits of agriculture instead of just toil and soil. maybe im wrong. idk.