A number of farmers on island will benefit from the donations of 850 Field Crates made available under the Agriculture Policy Programme (APP) for improvement of their marketing capacities.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), as the executing agency for the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Agriculture Policy Programme (APP) has been providing support to Dominica in the area of value-added initiatives.
In this regard, farmers who are affiliated to the Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) and rural women producers have received assistance in improving their marketing capacities.
“We will be handing over 850 multi-crates or field crates to farmers,” Technical Specialist of IICA to Dominica, Kent Coipel said while addressing a handing over ceremony held at Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA) Multi-purpose Pack-house in Goodwill on Friday. “These field crates represent one tangible measure on how we can improve our practises and productivity and take to market products that are comparable in quality in any part of the world.”
He continued, “We expect that our farmers who are fortunate to receive these crates from the APP project will make full use of the benefits to be derived and experience a reduction in waste and loss arising from problems in handling and transport their fresh produce from the farm to the pack-house to the market.”
Additionally, he said, in some of these activities IICA and its partners work closely with, as well as working with local experts at DEXIA, Bureau of Standards, Division of Agriculture to bring one clear message that access to the market requires success in improving fresh produce handling in meeting food safety and quality standards among others.
Meantime, Agriculture Minister Johnson Drigo said the government of Dominica has demonstrated a keen interest revitalizing the country’s agricultural sector and food system.
“This is directly aligned to the overall mission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,” he stated. “Our mission is to enhance food security, growth and development of the agricultural sector through the sustainable utilization of human, natural and other resources. Specifically the ministry intends to promote sustainable growth and development of the sector, enhance the enabling environment for investment in agriculture, encourage sustainable use of natural resources and improve food security in furtherance of this mission.”
Drigo said he is heartened to know that DEXIA will receive crates as the agency plays an important role, working directly with farmers and exporters to achieve the ministry’s export development thrust.
He encourages all stakeholders and beneficiaries to utilize the training, equipment and other benefits received towards the revitalization of the agricultural sector and Dominica’s economy as a whole.
“I wish all of you who will be receiving these crates all the best, we expect you to intensify your effort on the farm and the end result is to ensure that we have safer products, not only for the local markets, but also for the expanding export market,” he noted.
Bondieu! De coup people and dem want to pack de government in the crates instead of agricultural produce. Please somebody, explain to de coup people and dem what crates are used for in agriculture. We know some of dem never finish school, but dat is no reason for dem to wear ignorance, wickidness, untruthfullness and stupidity like badges of honor.
Johno thank you very much for the crates. They will make marketing and storing of agricultural produce much better.
If not for IICA and the EU with their BAM funding as well as other foreig donors agriculture would be null and void in Dominica i believe. Yes various bodies and individuals are benefiting from the assistance through the coordination of these funds by the government (DEXIA/ NAO etc.), but do not be fooled it is not government money or the government investing in these crates. Drigo will grin and smile because the assistance directly affects his ministry as well as people in his constituency so it will look like he did a good job. But the money is EU funded. Why is it such a big deal that farmers only now getting 850 crates.? in other countries 850 crates is laughed at. But yes we are thankful, Thank you IICA for making it possible. You did your job.
De farmers could use these boxes in dia pit latrines. This comment ain’t making it; but dno staff will read it. My comments are only for them to read before B in discarded. HELLO!!!!
Mr Minister Jono, why are you guys so disrespectful to our citizens? You guys treat the people like a group of hungry and poor human persons. Come on, a few crates, you making that a news item? Crates to do what? After you kill agriculture, you giving crates.
Crates to do what? Shame, shame, shame, shame. They want money, jobs, n justice not crates. Boy looook Papyshow en… Alllllllll time low
Johnno Drigo, you guys are real jokers with you handout mentality. You all, the Corrupt, useless Labour Party and its inept Prime Minister and blind loyalists believe that this is going to make a difference to Dominica’s Agriculture. Johnson Drigo, where are the crops to produce in large numbers to export and where is the market. Johnno, please run away from this corrupt government and it`s inept PM who has shown poor leadership skills and morale of good governance. He Has brought the name of Dominica to shame, disrepute and poor leadership. Skerrit Must Go. Go Skerrit
I take it that the only reason DNO put this on DNO is to help you all embarrass yourselves with this silly unproductive news to distract us from the reality of your dirty passport schemes. Well done DNO, good strategy. Johnno, you have worked with good leaders, role models in the past. I will advise you to refer to them to assist you how best to run away and stay away from the company of Skerrit and his corrupt…
yes blame U W P for the country not moving where
Are these crates receptacles for CBI,or sale of passport money..It cant be for agriculture,since DLP killed agriculture 17 years ago..SKERRIT MUST GO!SKERRIT MUST GO!SKERRIT MUST GO,!
Farmers also need better feeder roads, markets and inputs.
I sincerely hope that there will be no politicizing with the distribution of the crates. Pray that what happened with the fertilizer does not happen with the crates.
Next will come gloves
One farmer said long he wanted a laundry basket.
LOL…LOL….LOL….LOL….I really like this…I really….rally…really like this…..
Drigo does not know but these are the removal crates for his government.
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss…….
Skerrit ust go…please go….go to hell….hell…..helllll. Don’t come back
So what are farmers going to store in them as farming is dead. I have it why don’t we all put Drigo in it.
Always Assertive!
We should be able to manufacture these at home. Didn’t we have a plastics manufacturing company at home? Oh I forgot. I closed its doors. Way to go Drigo.
These minor efforts should have been in place 17 years ago. We will be celebrating the opening of an envelope next.
laughable. 850 crates like its is gold. shows how serious they are about the sector.
What a state of agriculture in dominica .
850 crates for all of Dominica .
I don’t get it.
This just proves that agriculture is dead.
That should be for one farm. Shame . Time to get serious people .
Lol
This government got the Dominican people like puppet
What are the farmers going to put in the crates?
Their…..,,,,,, damn morans.
we have produce to fill them. if not we can grow produce to fill them. Agriculture needs to work closer with the agro processors to add value to crops. Agro processors are lacking raw supply because there is a huge disconnect on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade.
hmmmm well what do you know? ….. first come the crates so hopefully the market for the produce placed in the crates will come soon.
The farmers needed proper roads and water; the police were sent with tear gas and guns.Will the crates help to have better access to the fields?Since when? Dominica needs factories to transform foods.We have to much food wasting ,it is time that the gov’t take a look at what is happening in other countries in order to develope Dominica. Stop putting forward mediocrity .
Aha, when we see these crates turn up at Roseau market or people at home using them for storage we know what happened. Hopefully the not going gthe same way as bobol bins. Where are these notorious bins anyway.
Garson Ma-sah-weear-John don’t know. This man is so clueless thats its not funny.
Always Assertive!
So you think you are smart and smarter than him? Wishful thinking and assumption. Why do some of you love to find fault and criticize? Is it because of your character and personality trait? Not a good one.
Whenever some of you comment, it is always criticisms. Rather boring and does not make for pleasant reading. Shame on you that you do not know better and to write something constructive. You give yourselves a bad name.
It has nothing to do with smart but to behave strategically. Have you any updated news in the status of our agricultural sector. Don’t you see that the Mininister concerned (whoever he/she is), is being used as a scapegoat. Ant right thinking person/minister would know that this so called scheme is a big joke and has o teeth, just handouts going nowhere towards production and money in farers` pockets.
Haha, guess what? He is the minister, you are not!
and that in itself is truely laughable. Pig in a palace.
only just now this elementary stuff.
UWP supporter as usual? Nothing better is expected of you supporters.
Do you not realize that you give UWP a bad name with this consistent criticism of the DLP ministers, that you are bias and it is taken note of?
The UWP should take all the crates so that if Thomson Fontaine becomes Min. Of Finance he will be able to use them to store Vet-ti-vet oil and goat milk. He has said that he would grow the economy by growing vet ti vet for oil and goats to produce milk for making cheese.
Great idea for him to store those crates now. Lol
why must anyone who doesnt support what the government does or criticizes their work always gets accused of being a uwp supporter? How bout just being a common sense and good willed supporter? how about a free thinker and moral advocate? many of us who criticize dont even support a party. it is like if you are not a laborite you automatically by default must be a uwp. nonsense.
We upside down and inside out here.