{"id":12811,"date":"2010-07-13T09:23:36","date_gmt":"2010-07-13T15:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/?p=12811"},"modified":"2010-07-13T09:56:26","modified_gmt":"2010-07-13T15:56:26","slug":"minister-walter-rejects-blame-for-decline-in-agriculture-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/news\/agriculture\/minister-walter-rejects-blame-for-decline-in-agriculture-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Minister Walter rejects blame for decline in agriculture industry"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Minister Walter. *DNO file photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunate, misleading and mischievous are words used by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Walter to describe suggestions that he and his ministry are responsible for the \u201cpoor performance\u201d of the banana and agriculture industry.<\/p>\n

In recent times, the government, particularly the agriculture ministry has been blamed for the current decline in the industry. Critics have said that not enough measures are being taken to revive agriculture, and that farmers are being neglected.<\/p>\n

In a statement read at a press conference held at the Ministry of Finance conference room yesterday, Walter dispelled such comments and said that they are a cause for concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is concerned and dismayed at comments made by certain banana officials in the media, in particular, those who purport that the Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture in Dominica are largely responsible for the \u201dpresent poor performance of the Industry\u201d Walter said in his statement.<\/p>\n

\u201c This is most unfortunate and misleading.\u00a0 Any attempt to blame the Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture for the continuing challenges faced by banana farmers is mischievous and must be dispelled forcefully,\u201d Walter said.<\/p>\n

He noted that many factors, which include the change of trading regimes and loss of preferential market for windward island crops, have brought about the current state of affairs of the industry.<\/p>\n

He said that such facts cannot be changed or challenged, not even by those wishing to blame him and his ministry for the industry\u2019s misfortune.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe industry has had to undergo significant changes both in terms of crop technology and management practices on the one hand, and marketing arrangements on the other. The present state of affairs of the banana sub-sector is a clear indication of changes in the trading regime for bananas … which is governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to which the Europeans had to comply,\u201d the minister stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe effects of the loss of preferential market access were predicted many years ago. Farmers and industry stakeholders were well informed of the impacts that this was going to have on rural agriculture and the national economies of the Windward Islands,\u201d according to him.<\/p>\n

The minister highlighted several assistant programs and concessions that the Government has allowed in order to support the industry over the years. He mentioned the Post Hurricane Dean Recovery Programme where over $5 million in aid was issued to locals within the agricultural sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinancing of Technical Assistance ($300,000) is another area through which assistance were provided to agro-processing ventures. For example, assistance was provided to; design agro-processing equipment, herbal product development, confectionery development, virgin coconut oil development, farine and toloman development…\u201d Walter noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo date approximately EC$ 25 million was invested in agricultural diversification and rural development activities,\u201d the agriculture minister added.<\/p>\n

Walter also mentioned an Implemented the Rural Credit Facility with a 50\/50 grant and loan facility, which serves as a direct cash injection into the agriculture sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Banana Industry \/ Rural Development Programme which consists of: Irrigation and drainage; ($6M)New Inland Reception and Distribution Centres \u00a0(IRDCs) at WoodBridge Bay and Long House Portsmouth and one renovated at Marigot;\u00a0 ($8.2M) … Improved Farm Access Roads. Over 10 miles of farm access roads were rehabilitated,\u201d he informed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Unfortunate, misleading and mischievous are words used by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Walter to describe suggestions that he and his ministry are responsible for the \u201cpoor performance\u201d of the banana and agriculture industry. 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