Banana and plantain farmers on the island are set to benefit from a shipment of fertilizer and oil from the European Union (EU) that will assist in managing the spread of the deadly Black Sigatoka Disease.
Some 35,000 gallons of oil as well as 20,000 bags of fertilizer, both CAN (Calcium Ammonium Nitrate) and NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash), are being made available by the EU under the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM).
“We in the Ministry of Agriculture are extremely happy that this program is finally coming through,” Agriculture Minister, Johnson Drigo said while addressing a handing over ceremony held at the Botanic Gardens on Monday. “For the whole of last year, 2015 we spoke about the procurement of this fertilizer and the oil for spraying, thankfully the government of Dominica came on board recognizing that we had taken a pounding from Black Sigatoka and the very dry season we had last year government came on board early and made funds available.”
According to him, last week officials from the Ministry of Agriculture visited Banana Recovery Program in the north of the island and were “very happy” about what was observed in the field.
“On Friday we visited the Banana Recovery Program in the north and we were happy to see that in some areas a lot of the bananas are in bunch, with lovely bunches…we feel satisfied with the results where we are thus far going forward with the Banana Recovery Program,” Drigo explained.
Drigo took a swipe at what he described as ‘talk shows’ saying the ministry’s program and objective are not driven by them.
“They may say what they want on the talk shows but the objective of the ministry is to ensure that the hardworking farmers who wake up in the mornings, file their cutlasses and go to their farms to make a livelihood for their families, to send their children to school, to maintain their homes, can succeed,” he remarked. “I am saying to the farmers do not lose focus.”
Meantime, National Authorizing Officer for the European Union, Carleen Roberts said the EU through the BAM has assisted the government of Dominica in improving the competitiveness and the productivity of the agricultural sector.
“Under the BAM program one of the major areas of intervention is that of risk management and we can understand where the management of Black Sigatoka is of paramount importance,” she stated. “Under the BAM the European Union has supported the chemical treatment of Black Sigatoka disease, it has also supported public awareness of the disease and most critically it has provided for the input to enhance plant nutrition and good husbandry practices for the management of Black Sigatoka disease.”
She revealed that early in September the government signed a contract worth approximately $2.3-million with SCIC Guadeloupe to make the contribution of the oil and fertilizer possible.
Not that this will change anything. However, having read what a “blogger” wrote: “The red shirt says it all,” I thought that it encapsulated the greed that that has run through every administration since Miss Charles. But more so, this one. (If the minister had on a blue shirt it would be all UWPites getting fertilizer.) There is a putrid stench of rank corruption that reeks from the Labour government. All their necks fat. Check their ride. Check the number of scandals since they in power. But, hyee chien…they connect Goodwill to Roseau, the Friendship bridge is good. The Portsmouth Highway, The State House, the Grammar School Wing, the College, and much more. This Government has done a lot of good things. One notes the inferior work: while the State House looks good on the outside, check the inside, etc. All shows a picture of if 10 miles of road is built, a full 7 of those miles ending up in the pockets of those right on top. Tragic, but they still win elections until like…
There was once a famous man from Castle Bruce called Antoine “Manicou” Jacob.
He went to a shop keeper called Pampam (Skervin Jno.Finn) and asked for credit but Pampam refused because he thought his wife would disapprove. Mr. Manicou being very upset and disappointed in Pampam then said to him in disgust:
“There are man, Zarman, many and manicou sir, which one are you? Pampam reluctantly responded; Zarman sir because you are already Manicou.”
. Now John-Dont-Know, like the said Pampam I am proclaiming you Zarman because you refused to stand up to Skerro because of fear. 
Assertive, NEVER Aggressive!
Ok John-Dont-Know I see you trying to appease Skersker now by shouting you have fertilizer for labourites
!
Garson ou toe sort
! STOP making a fool of yourself to please Skersker and focus on your constituency. Resign from the DLP government and stay on as an independent if you need a salary but the writing is on the wall 
. Bondarwu finibat as minister of agriculture. If the supreme leader keep you there it will be to fool the people but you are already a defanged, toothless and impotent lion among all the lionesses in the DLP CABAL. Good riddance as you start the SOUSAY SEL routine with the rest of us Dominicans. 
I will refer to you as Mr.Reject from now on when we meet in public so you will figure it out if you have any commonsense.
Assertive, Never Aggressive!
Fertilizer is not good for the soil,it destroys the natural nutrients on a longer run and is also dangerous for the health,compost is the best manure for growing food while at the same time it nourishes the soil and preserve it..
The fertilizer is just for labourites or for the farmers in Dominica? I guess the red shirt tells it all
Can’t say the Agri minister didn’t listen to the PM from now on the Agriculture Ministry will be publicizing agriculture black is white! hahahahaha
I hope Q95 don’t air all you crap because I am tired of all you foolishness!
No matter how much fertiliser i receive if de road to my farm is destroyed how do I get my crops out of my field to distribute for sale?
For months now is only fertiliser talk i hearing.
For de love of Dominica will de hotels in Portsmouth get completed before access roads to our farms?
De farming communities have been abused and neglected.
Why we not boasting organic farming in our nature island of 365 rivers?
Sometime i wonder if some people sleep upside down.
Drigo de agriculture ministry is not shining under your watch.
Shame on you all.
Well the statistics show that it was the farming communities that voted back labor…so deal with it. Roseau North, Roseau South, Roseau Central all refused and voted out Labour. I really don’t care who get fertilizer ….we voted Labour. …we have to take our blows. Amen
Call the names of the farmers who this will go to. You know your people who is set to benefit.
Drigo your an unworthy minister,hope every farmer gets from the fertilizer,and not labour supporters only.