The Ministry of Agriculture is reporting that more Dominican produce will soon be made available regionally.
In an interview with the Hon Minister for Agriculture, Johnson Drigo on Wednesday, April 6th, he revealed that the projected volume of export for Dominican produce in the region is quite high.
“We are seeing 930 tons of dasheen being marketed over the period November to June. I can also report that over 235 tons of passion fruit will also be marketed in that period,” he noted. “The plantain subsector is also doing well, we expect to export over 480 tons of plantain over the corresponding period, and vegetables for local consumption is also on the increase.”
The Ministry of Agriculture intends to monitor the production of the produce and liaise very closely with the Ministry of Trade to ensure that all of the products are exported.
The Minister is pleased that local produce will be sent to markets such as Barbados.
“We are happy that a consultancy was done for the high end market in Barbados and very soon we will be exporting at least two containers of fresh agricultural produce to Barbados on a weekly basis. The prospect for the marketing of the production is good but we need to hold on very firm to it. I want to thank all the exporters who are involved in exporting fresh products out of Dominica,” he said.
To ensure the position of Dominican produce on the market the Minister says that high standards will be maintained.
“The Ministry is working feverishly in getting the farmers certified for the export market. Also the Ministry is working with the Bureau of Standard and had consultations with the farmers, to prepare them to meet the necessary standard for the export of the bananas,” he remarked.
But where they getting those numbers there? The produce heavier than the country man?
(Exit)
well written st Jean….. I would also add the need for an Agricultural Insurance similar to what the Banana Industry had in place
Seriously, when you listen to some of these Government Ministers then look at the reality on the ground you can’t help but wonder whether you’re living somewhere in the “Matrix”!!! I mean look at the statements in this article made by our dear Minister of Agriculture…Mr. Drigo actually speaks of exporting TONS of local produce…TONS people!!!! To export tons of produce out of Dominica right now you would have to include leaf, stalk, grass and even the dirt it’s planted in. Dominicans, is our Government really serious or are they going overboard with their attempts to treat us like a bunch of fools??? You drive all around Dominica you will know that WE ARE NOT PRODUCING. Our large-scale farmers are far and few. So many farms are covered in bush, grass and down-cane with limited road access. Can any real and honest Dominican tell me that we are growing enough to export tons of produce on a consistent basis??? I can’t sit here and accept this at all…pure rubbish!
Please repair the feeder roads for increase products. Salisbury farmers are tied of crying, remember they are our greatest producers of crops in the country. They are Dominicans and “all shall eat as the theme of labour party says “. I am Dominican and is feeling very sorry for them. God is a mercyful God and loves all mankind. The Pope recently made a statement on small farmers. Are we listening to the voice of God.
When this humanoid talk about Dominica produce will soon be available regionally, perhaps he should state precisely when in the region he hope to export his products to. When we speak of the region, in reference to Dominica, we are talking about Guyana in South America, to Jamaica in the North of the Caribbean. Guyana, and Trinidad produces everything we plant and grow in Dominica.
If he is impressing that the people in the Windward Islands are going to import his agricultural produce, they produce the some produce as the Dominica farmers. Jamaica can supply all of the Caribbean with all of what we have in Dominica. So, now we are talking about Antigua, St. Martin, Nevis Anguillia, St. Croix and St. Thomas.
For almost a hundred years, Dominicans has been taking agricultural products to Antigua mainly for sale, outside of Antigua, the rest of the Leeward islands does not present much marketing opportunity. The produce the same in Montserrat too!
As for Barbados, good luck,…
This sounds very encouraging let us hope that this projection will be realized .
I’m fed up of hearing horse manure from politicians.
But which Dominica is Johno talking about nah…Did anyone have a breathalyser?.He must have been bwi lay!!!!
Tell your minister to tell the truth I do business with a Chinese man who went to Da to buy dasheen but Da has a big problem we need a hot water treatment plant So Mr minister tell the people the truth
The Minister is naive on two counts; namely market dynamics and vagaries of agricultural production. He should only speak about what has happened rather than what is to happen in agriculture .
increase Export ?? to export what ??/ you can not even find fruit at the market, the carrots are in bag from oversea……!!! what a joke !!!
I am not being negative but rather realistic when I say how do you increase exports. By waving a magic wand?
only Barbados? what about the islands up north ?
Before we had Caricom etc , there was a viable no-hassle inter-island schooner trading which Barbadians very much depended on. The Late Prime Minister of Barbados David Thomson , held discussions with the Dominica Government about supplying fresh produce to Barbados. Many Barbadians are disappointed that this venture did not come to fruition.
Dominica to increase export of local produce.? From what levels did Da begin? What obtained pre and post-Erika? One wonders why the weakest, most incompetent, incapable person heads the Ministry of Agriculture?
Farm roads are in deplorable conditions still. Farmers find it hard to access their farms to produce as they would like. Those real farmers do not receive the needed bags of fertilizer.
The political affiliations override everything else. Production of local crops have been severely undermined because of the neglect of Agriculture. by DLP Gov’t. Plain to see.
The cabal boast that selling of our passports make millions upon millions. Only a few benefit from those sales of ordinary as well as diplomatic passports. That’s the way to build the economy they claim, while the majority, farmers and their families, are left poorer. Many have been forced to flee from agriculture, FOOD production, money-earner due to DLP Gov’t NEGLECT. Food insecurity
What does Mr Drigo mean when he said that the Min. of Agriculture will laise with the Min. of Trade to ensure that all of the products are exported.This sounds like happy speach to me.The Minister was given a microphone and he got excited.Marketing of agricultural products has always been a made to be difficult for Dominica. Reason being we delude ourselves.To be successful,we can’t produce in a vacuum and then seek to market the stuff.This approach leads to unreliable supply,unreliable quality unreliable prices and the effort comes to a disappointing halt in the early stages. Then frustration sets in and we repeat the cycle.
For success we must select the commodities based on the market intelligence, plan the production,harvesting and post harvest necessities,transportation to get these goods to market to meet consumer demand on an ongoing basis.If we are just going to export then we become large scale hucksters who won’t succeed for long
Tons or Pounds?