Over $5-million has been invested by the government to rehabilitate the island’s citrus industry which has been ravaged by pests and diseases, namely, Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV) in 2000 and Huanglongbing (Citrus Greening Disease) in 2012.
This is according to a release from the ministry of agriculture.
“Through the Citrus Certification Programme, the Government of Dominica has invested in the introduction of Screen Houses and Sheds, a laboratory, and increased the Unit’s human resource capacity,” the release said. “Through these efforts, the Division of Agriculture’s Citrus Certification Project in an effort to decrease Dominica’s reliance on the importation of citrus seed material for rootstocks and eliminate the Ministry of Agriculture’s annual expenditure for the importation of these, has established Seed Gardens on Four (4) of its agricultural stations, to enable farmers with establishments and those looking to enter the sector, obtain true to type, disease free Citrus Planting Materials. ”
According to the ministry, these trees have begun to produce fruits and seed extraction of specific varieties, namely the Cleopatra Mandarin, Rangpur Limes, Volkamer Lemons, and C-35 Citrange, “four years after the initial importation of the seed material back in 2007.”
“The rootstock materials are used in the propagation of seedless and seeded limes,” the release noted. “The other varieties of rootstock material (Carrizo Citrange, Swingle Citrumelo, Troyer Citrange, Flying Dragon Trifoliate) have begun flowering and it is anticipated that in the next two years, the programme will be totally self-sufficient in the production of Citrus Rootstock Seed Material for production of seedlings for distribution to farmers island wide.”
I was 18 years old when my dada went at the Londonderry agricultural and brought orange grapefruit and mandarin plant, I was there standing and heard him said I am planting these for all you, so when I am gone you’ll will get that, the first, grapefruit tree bear, last year, my husband call me and said it a pink grape fruit , it has a lot of fruits, I decided to go home and enjoyed 2 months later the are saying that the government is cut down all the citrus trees, so I am wondering what going on , you came on my property and cut my citrus down I need to know when I am my going to get compensation for my trees I am asking the prime minister when is he will to talk to me , I live in the state and I will be home soon to deal whith that matter
At the beginning of the eradication project the department of agriculture removed my lime tree and gave me an orange tree in return, they told me that the tree they gave me was disease free, three months later they came back and took the tree back, saying that it was diseased, and that they would give me back a tree when the the problem is under control, so I hope i get compensated with a tree when all this mess is over.
Thank you Lenox Linton for making somethings happen, looks like coast to coast in twenty five making a lot of the impossible things that could not happen possible, looks like a lot more will come, thank god for Lenox Linton
YOU SEE RIGHT ABOUT NOW NOTHING THAT GOVERNMENT SAY I DONT REALLY CARE, AM A MOTHER WITH THREE CHILDREN AND I CAN TELL AM FILLING THE HEAT IT IS HARD VERY HARD I JUST CANT FEED MY CHILDREN THE WAY I HAS TO MR PM PLEASE TELL ME WHEN ARE THE JOBS WILL BE JUMPING OUT OF YOUR SUITCASE. SO I CAN WAIT TO GRAB ONE,
I thaught dno said no caps.
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I humbly suggest that the Ministry of Agriculture consider assisting farmers with citrus plants in areas that are promising for cultivation. For example, the syndicate farmers are in need of plants but are unable to replant due to the cost involved. Lets help the farmers back to production.