Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Johnson Drigo, has advised farmers to seek the assistance of the extension offices within their zones as they recover from the ravages of Tropical Storm Erika.
Drigo was addressing a handing over ceremony of agricultural contributions to the Toloma Women in Action Group of Delices held at the Botanical Gardens earlier this week.
“Coming out of the post-Erika period, we are looking at doing things better,” he stated. “So I want all of our farmers to go to their extension offices within their zones and use the wealth of knowledge that exists within the structures, invite the extensions to your farms. Everybody is presently on a rapid replanting programme, you cannot do it alone, you need the support of the extension officers of your area.”
He stated farmers should not wait for extension officers to come to them.
“Go to the offices and invite them to your farms,” he noted.
Drigo said that in every community a well-structured farmers’ group, working within the zones of their area, is needed.
He also encouraged the women farming community of Dominica to establish groups in their areas.
“It would be nice if we could have a strong vegetable farmers group of women coming from the valley,” he opined.
He noted that the government is preparing to form a group of women farmers concentrating on cassava and potatoes in the Good Hope, San Sauveur and Petite Soufriere area.
“Government will be able to assist these groups better if they are well structured,” he explained. “I am not talking about cooperatives, I am talking about farmers group with an executive where they meet and discuss their challenges.”
Additionally, he said, the government has approved $300,000 to assist fishermen who were affected by Tropical Storm Erika.
“Our hope is that before the week is over we can start paying this contribution to some of these farmers to get them back into the waters,” he stated.
Meantime Parliamentary Representative for the La Plaine constituency, Petter Saint Jean, said agriculture still remains one of the key pillars for Dominica’s development, pointing to the importance of agro-processing.
“Importantly agro-processing must be viewed seriously by all those involved in the agriculture industry,” he noted. “And that is why I believe that the Delices Toloma Women in Action has taken this thing one notch further.
The contribution to the Toloma Women in Action Group of Delices was made available by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
Sir am guessing that your ofiçers did not get the memo . Because itnhave months now i begging for is to get visits in the south . So i not sure which extwntion officers u asking us to work with ?
drigo go suck salt
I think that government has a problem in trying to make people believe that they are now doing things that never was done. Asking farmers to seek the assistance of their extension officers is bull…….. advise. The extension officers should be working with the farmers to ensure they get the required assistance. The extension officers should be the ones encouraging and guiding the farmers to form farmers groups and the likes. That is how it was in the past and that is how it should be. That new format is truly Bull…. In Delices, men like Heskeith Alexander the former Agriculture Minister and Thomas Etienne, Agriculture Minister too(???) led not just A Delices farmers group but a South Eastern Farmers group covering Delices back to Grand Fond. Drigo all you full of bull. …….. trying to make believe all you doing things….. All you, Labor Party break all people oriented structures Go to…… I tired hear you in particular bray…..
Please be careful with your statements and ensure what you ‘re stating is correct. The Extension services have tried there utmost best to form groups and mobilize farmers. The problem is the farmers their attitude, greed and unwillingness to adopt information from Extension. Another point, that’s one of the goals of extension and extension cannot force anything down unto anybody, farmers must come together and realize there own potential as a group and then request the services of extension. For example, if a group of farmers from Belles realize the potential of Dasheen, i think is fair for the farmers of Belles to come together and have a discussion with extension and ask questions and then move forward. Just a question ?
Drigo says:
“Coming out of the post-Erika period, we are looking at doing things better,”
Drigo please, this is a better statement: ““Coming out of the post Skerrit and corrupt DLP government period, we are looking at doing things better,” …….or better, we have made it easier for us to do things worse……… corrupt the economy, increase poverty, lack of accountability etc etc…..
Really Drigo……? There is no way you can and will achieve this, NOT under Skerrit. It is sad you got roped into this melee and a disgrace to Castle Bruce people and the East.
Get away from this melee government as you name is still of some reputation.
I am reading the same old message from you.
mr drigo is it true that an extension officer from the north was asked to move to grandbay because he gave a non supporter of the DLp fertilizer?
drigo mwe tay kay dire yon biten.