The Ministry of Agriculture is now on a drive to assist farmers and persons with backyard gardens to do some planting so as to feed themselves and family.
During a radio program on State-owned DBS radio last week, Ryan Anslem from the division and agriculture and other officials explained that the division was in the process of preparing “seedlings” to help those who needed.
“We have been asking people with backyard space to grow what you eat…and as a result, given the situation with the Coronavirus (COVID 19) we are on an all-out drive to assist farmers,” he said.
He explained that his department has gone around the island and divided it into groups so as to deal effectively meet the needs of those in need.
“We have lettuce, cabbage, kale, cucumber, pumpkin, string beans, lettuce and more…we have been asking people to register with us, call us at 611-3545, 3455, 3126 and 3125 to speak to our staff and make the necessary arrangements,” they stated.
So far, they have already started giving to people of Pointe Michel, Grand Bay, Portsmouth and other districts.
This is a good initiative. We already see tons of food being disposed of by large farmers because the usual distribution logistics for such large numbers of produce is shut down. People need food, food is there, but the big farmers cannot get it to them. As a result communities are suffering. With small backyard farmers the people can feed themselves and their brothers and sisters in their communities. It may appear a small thing, but is indeed very valuable. Everyone cannot plant everything, so if your neighbor planting carrots and beans, you plant lettuce and cabbage. Come together, share and exchange, feed each other, and survive. Thanks, and let us get it done!
This is a perfect example to show you prepare for war in the time of peace if the government had build up agriculture the country would be more resilient
For the last twenty (20) years the DLP Administration has failed to give agriculture and farmers the serious attention that they deserve. Now that they are caught with their pants down, they are trying to mislead the populace, with their happy propagandistic rhetoric, about support for backyard farming. This Skerrit-led Kakistocracy like to sing this phrase – “we are in the process of …..” The people want deeds not any more unfulfilled promises. These promises are still in the process to be completed: intl. airport; modern cruise ship facility; revitalization of Roseau; ten (10) health centers and state of the arts hospitals, etcetera. This regime is antithetical to progress.
I was following you until you used the word antithetical. Please tell me what it means.
Skerrit is confused and just pretending. Clearly he don’t know what he’s about because he takes one step that seems good but corresponding actions destroy the good. Here is a perfect example: they are saying to eat what you grow especially during Covid-19 and that’s good. But see what they are doing:
1. during Covid-19 supermarkets are allowed to stay open until 2:pm. So people can get more Mac& cheese, rice, corn curles etc. Things we don’t grow
2. Pharmacies are opened until 4pm. Im not against that because some among us need their medicine. However we must always remember that we could either eat right i.e eat what we grow or eat medications.
3. The market that sells what we grow what we should encourage people to eat during Covid-19, closes at 1pm. I just can’t understand Skerrit and his reverse strategy. The market should open until 4pm everyday so people could get their essentials. Only if in Skerrit’s mind what we grow is not essential & that’s why he killed…
Don’t be enabling. Why every initiative has to stem from a political standpoint? Why not teach how to grow the seedlings from scratch. Giving the seedlings forwards a sort of dependency that is so 19 th century. Please Dominicans move forward. This here should not even be news. Everyone in this country should already have a backyard garden anyway. My great granny taught me that. Not the ministry of agriculture. That is not what your job really is. Think back on the years and see how you are really operating in a backward manner. What happen to the school gardens? This would teach the youth to earn skills in marketing, farming, economics, and maybe even small business. Giving seedlings is not an idea of teaching to fish. This is an opinion and an idea.
Years ago Dominicans grew their own food, no produce was imported. They even grew their own coffee and tea. People living in the countryside had a vegetable garden. They also produced their own milk and eggs.
I am very much in support of this programme. Thumbs up to the Ministry of Agriculture. Whilst I applaud this initiative market has to be secured both locally and regionally for these produce. Even the distribution of seedlings has to be done in a manner not to create a flood on the local market (like in the situation of egg production post Maria). I believe different seedlings should be given to different districts . All districts should not have the same crops.
Dominican just like to complain. We sit on a side and complain about every move the government make. But are you making a move to help the situation. When one criticize
they should be showing proof of something that they are doing and compare it to the other person to show that you are doing better. But don’t sit on a side and because you don’t support the government you call every thing they do is a joke every little bit help. Lets do our part we are all in this together party or not support something lets make our country better.
A good initiative BUT the recent housing revolution didn’t take yard space into account. And neither did it take into account what will inevitably be the future trend of working from home.
If you think that the current restrictions on movement are difficult, think of how vexing it must be for those families from Petite Savanne and elsewhere that once had ample yard space but now, during “lock-down” periods, cannot step beyond their front door.
I consider this a good venture by the ministry. For me, this is a forward-thinking initiative that is being done in a timely matter. I want to urge all supermarkets to continue to support the farmers. Likewise, I would like to admonish our young people, both males, and females to embrace the opportunity to create a livelihood for themselves. Finally, to Ministry, please try to ensure that there are continuous supervision and monitoring of this program to observe its full potential in the economy. If the Ministry does what it ought to. such as continuous packaging and presentation of those vegetables and crops the sector/country will benefit tremendously. This means a lot of positives to the country; absence of crime and reduce domestic violence ect. Also let us ensure that there is that liaison between the ministry, DEXIA, and DAIC so that our produce is given prominence on our supermarket shelves. Let us ALL support this venture like never before.
May God guide us thru…
I agree with you 100%
Thanks for your positive and thoughtful input. I agree with this wholeheartedly.
The Ministry of Agriculture should hasten to provide the inputs and other items from the Post Hurricane Maria
World Bank project so farmers can produce serious food and meat. This project is child’s play.
This project may indeed be child’s play, as you have opined. However, at least the children will play. The option for the government to sit and do nothing would mean no one would play, adult nor child. Give thanks for whatever little good this will do, one step at a time, maybe the adults get to play next, but at least let the children play now if they can!