Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said that the construction of a new China-aided project, the Dominica Agricultural Science Complex, will help in the continued transformation of farming and crop production in Dominica.
During his speech at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony, the prime minister stated that the challenges farmers face, in large measure, have to do with the containment and treatment of pests and diseases on our farms.
“I believe that is costing us as farmers about 40% of the cost of our agricultural pursuits and with the introduction of tissue culture plants and seedlings, this is going to help in reducing and if not eliminating, the presence of certain pests and diseases on our farms, giving farmers clean planting material,” Skerrit remarked.
He noted that the complex will ensure that yields can be dramatically improved and the cost of production can be reduced and therefore farmers’ revenue, stream, and income, would be increased.
“We welcome this research and development center and I will say to our ambassador, that we’ll not only keep this for Dominica. The intention is to share this knowledge and experience here with the rest of our brothers and sisters in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).” Skerrit added.
He labelled as “extraordinary” the extent of the contribution of the Agricultural Technical Mission in Dominica over the last 17 years pointing out that every village in Dominica has benefited from the presence of this “gift to the government of Dominica.”
The PM said that with this added facility, the country will “undoubtedly” see a dramatic improvement in the quality of crops.
“We have set ourselves a target to increase the contribution of agriculture to the GDP to 700 million dollars,” he revealed. “I believe that it can be achieved.” He agriculture currently contributes about 300 million dollars to Dominica’s the GDP.
According to Skerrit, if people can change their consumption habits and eat more of what is produced, it will help in reducing the food import bill, keeping our foreign exchange and have money circulating among farmers and communities.
Meantime, Chinese Ambassador, Lin Xianjiang, said the Complex facility is a high-tech agricultural modernization project with a total investment of about EC$10 million fully funded by the Chinese Government.
“It includes a state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory and a technical training center. The tissue culture lab will be used to produce virus-free plants, effectively controlling stubborn diseases such as banana black spot, and improving the quality and yield of agricultural produce, while ensuring Dominica will no longer depend on imports of virus-free seedlings,” Ambassador Xianjiang said
He said the technical training center will offer an enabling environment that supports the training of farmers and technical officers, to the benefit of all agricultural districts and farmers in Dominica.
He noted that this facility and the China-Dominica Modern Agriculture Center are sister projects, supporting each other in terms of hardware and technology.
“I am confident that the two projects will aid in your quest to restore, revitalize and modernize your agricultural sector.”
Whereas I contend that our traditional banana do not produce seeds: the following may appear to be a contradiction; I view that as if our banana plant has long being genetically altered.
Commercially grown bananas that are cultivated specifically for consumption don’t have seeds. Over time, they have been modified to have three sets of genes instead of two (triploid) and produce no seeds. In nature, however, one encounters many banana types with seeds; in fact, some seeds are so large it is difficult to get to the pulp. That said, can you grow bananas from seed?
Read on to find out about growing banana trees from seeds. Can You Grow Bananas from Seed? As mentioned above, the banana you are eating for breakfast has been genetically tinkered with to lack seeds and are usually Cavendish bananas. There are many other banana varieties out there and they do contain seeds.
In any event the Chines are going to screw it up even more, I think our best option is to rest the land.
Con:
If you’ve ever sliced open a banana from a grocery store, you may see little black dots that appear to be seeds. These “seeds” are immature and can’t be planted and grown. Most bananas sold in stores are of the Cavendish variety, which are commercial bananas that typically produce no seeds. That’s because they’ve are modified to have three sets of genes, called a “triploid,” instead of two to create a seedless variety.
The Cavendish banana was named after the 7th Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish. He received a specimen from Mauritius, and then, after cultivating it in England, it became an official cultivar in 1836 and eventually returned to its native tropical regions.
Thanks for copy and pasting. What would we do without you or more to the point, what would YOU do without Google. You are a stupid old goat for true. Get out of here!!!
Maybe you are right. I have to see my eyes I don’t know already.
My bananas were without seeds but… as I said.
A really good project can be a musical festival.
I study this project and if you have debts that can solve it.
Crops? Maybe yes maybe not
Maybe you are right. I have to see my eyes I don’t know already.
My bananas were without seeds but… as I said.
A really good project can be a musical festival.
I study this project and if you have debts that can solve it.
Crops? Maybe yes maybe not
I think you are a bit soft…?
“I am confident that the two projects will aid in your quest to restore, revitalize and modernize your agricultural sector.”
Sweet sounding words; it may sound scientific, but in reality sweet sounding words can turn the lives of our nation up side down; if we indulge in genetic alteration of our plants.
“This type of seeds is identified as “high yielding variety” (HYV) seeds, have their own characteristics that make them able to take better advantage of irrigation water, nutrients. The quantity of product that is obtained by surface planted is superior in comparison with a traditional seed.
When we speak of agriculture, in Dominica the emphasis is on Bananas, in addition to root crops such as the staples we eat. Now there is principal of farming set down in the word of God, if followed, Roosevelt would not be listening to this communist, which genetic alteration of our plants structure that will cause diseases and all the negative to follow.
I can debate to an extent the traditional banana plant we have in our country does not have seeds as it reproduces from its parent, it is interesting to note; Bananas grown in the wild do not have seeds.
Banana fruits are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, and vitamins B1, B2 and B6. I will not elaborate on that: nevertheless; according to the method God set for farmers to follow is that, when land is cultivated for a period of seven years, after seven years the land must be rested for seven years without cultivation.
The simple scientific explanation to that is it gives the land time to be replenish with nutrients which the land need to produce crops, practically without fertilizer which is nothing more than ammonia, which is actually destructive to the production of crops.
To all of you who are complaining about GMO, you are eating GMO every day. Flour, corn containing products, canned foods, packaged foods, oil and the list goes on.
Most foods produced in North America are derived from GMO seeds. American dairy products and meats are loaded with growth hormones and antibiotics.
All of the non-organic fruits that you consume are sprayed with pesticides. That is the way of agricultural in North America. If you don’t check, you will never know.
You are quite right Zandoli.
Unfortunately, Caribbean small island states follow the lead of what they perceive to be more developed countries for all the wrong reasons.
This government’s approach to agriculture is stuck on production. Then what? How? Where? Where are the boats which Skerritt promised to have in place to transport agriculture products from Dominca? The country is still waiting. To talk of $700 million from agriculture is not going to materialize unless the other key aspects of from farm to market are put in place. Talk has always been cheap.
All these comments by you “babies” don’t mean a darn thing. One man against 70,000 plus people – If all you do is sit your BUTT down and comment (as you have been doing for the past 20 plus years) about all these madness that’s overwhelming your country and you do nothing else….. I’ll tell you what; You do not deserve a Country. You allow outside people; a people from very far away to come in your country to change everything you are accustomed to, your way of life, the food you eat, and buying out your country by the acres and all you do is observe? When you comment on all these illegalities with no push back, no demonstration, no boycotting etc. all you are doing is observing and taking notes. Well listen to me, there’ll come a time when your freedom to comment will be no more. In other words, it will be illegal for anyone to voice displeasure with the government or with China. Don’t think it won’t happen. Unless we push back now it will be inevitable. Keep joking with Skeritt
Those that do have the courage to stand up, voice objections, demonstrate, walk in Roseau, are harassed, at a minimum by police acolytes of Skerrit. It gets worse because the acolytes are now starting to press charges against these folks, as they have done with others, that then languish in the justice system for years. Forces those that raise their objections to step carefully, waste time, and money.
Heck, even a visiting tourist who lingers too long looking at the galvanize around the old library attracts the attention of the camoflage-clad police guard at State House. He doesn’t say anything but stares hard. That tourist was me.
The time is already upon Dominica that freedom to voice objections is “verboten”.
And the old library is already lost.
The Dominica that I once knew, and loved, is dead.
Mr Skerrit, is the father of Dominica he can do no round most of us Dominicans, can see the achievement and everything he touches turn into gold in a matter of fact Dominica should have a name change called the Commonwealth of Roosevelt Skerrit, that would be a great honour to the Man himself, I call a Gentle General.
I miss spelt the word wrong have a field day Ibo,
Dogs keep walking with your eyes closed.
Dog Biter, I realise you have turned comedian now. Good luck with your new gig. Hope it works out for you so you can stop begging handouts from the personification of Lucifer.
@Ibo, say as you say like they say in Jamaica Ibo, I don’t care two hoops what you think about me, but just keep my wife out of your rubbish otherwise we my wife and I will come down very hard on you my so-called friend, please be advised once again our lawyer in London will take full care of you regardless of where ever you are.
Remember GMO seeds are patented. This will kill Agricultural farming as we know it…….look what happened in India. Multinational Corporations will eventually control all crop production.. At least this is “their “ goal. Wake up people……
Really?!! A what??!!!!
Skerrit is in bed with China, this won’t end well for Dominica
Once China puts it foot down then that’s it. It’s called and mean many things to China – They even call it “helping the poor countries.” 😂 Meanwhile, China has in its own backyard some of the poorest people on the planet. Well, I call it filtration. If China was able to infiltrate and take Jamaica; what is little Dominica and the weakest and meanest leader to China? We don’t need to have Chinese hand in our food! Guess what will happen to your brain? It will be programmed to believe that you cannot do without them, and loving them above yourself. I don’t buy or eat Chinese food. It’s a very sad 20 years that Dominica has suffered under Skeritt. But God is the deliverer.
There we go again!!!
Mista in everything wi,,,
Where is the Minister of Agriculture on this???
So why is Dominica now going to get involved with Genetically Modified food???
RastarMarn doh like dat move dere nuh,,,
Dem ChinaMan Dem doh have no bizniss coming and tell Rastar how to grow Yam and Dasheen!!!
Allyou doh See everything dem ChinaManDem touch they never fixing it back as it suppose to be???
Look at the West Coast Road it dere falling apart,,,
Chinese agriculture in Dominica , that’s trouble, bad food china got 1.402 billion people they force food to grow they will mess our soil up with there chemical our wild life in trouble our rivers will be destroy that is madness. Skerrit you really sold Dominica to the chinese, we will here more later.
So Skerrit thinks its a good idea for Dominicans to eat Chinese genetically modified food, does he ? The Chinese influence in the Caribbean is becoming extremely unhealthy – now literally so.
They will use Dominicans a Guinea pigs. This is worse than Covid vaccination. They will slowly poison all you. Thank yoU PM
And was has Dominica got to show for the Chinese contribution to research? I tell you what, nothing, absolutely nothing. Skerrit, pull the other one. YOU can’t fool me.
De coffee plant is a reminder of Skerrit policy on agriculture…… and it sits directly opposite the Chinese controlled One Mile agriculture station.
They maybe have markets ready for trade in China and Chinese market in the Caribbean.
It’s called neo-colonialism with a puppet in charge
I wonder if our extension officers know how to identify GMO and if they will alert de local farmers and the general public.
That’s an election promise…. be guarded…. don’t be fooled.
In 2018 dis same government signed a technical agreement with China….$120 million dollars and part of dat money was to construct an agricultural complex in Portsmouth!!!!!!! admin should have de information….. can de people get an update????
‘virus-free’ = ‘genetically modified’ ?
I have seen how China has raped and ill-treated Africans in their own countries under the guise of economic development. My point is simply this. Knowing what China has done in other poor countries, knowing their modus operandi, only an imbecilic leader would give this country unbridled permission with the local resources.
Dominica is truly unique with a uniquely unqualified dimwit in the highest government office.
I have seen and heard how the Americans police and white people have treated black people but not one of you have the guts to stand up and say a word, why because they are white people giving the full treatment to niggers like you lots please get out of here bloody hypocrites as off ugly Lenny, and his blue monkeys.
Shakespeare often delighted his audiences by word play. This included intentionally misspelling – and hence the actors mispronouncing – words to comic effect.
I can only assume that DNO has followed the bard’s lead by using the word “constriction” rather than “construction” in the first sentence of the PM’s speech.
That said, a reliance on foreign aid can be a factor that constricts us from taking initiatives ourselves.
ADMIN: That is quite clever. The typo has since been corrected.