The Hon Minister for Agriculture, Johnson Drigo, has said that the agriculture industry in Dominica is not dead but alive and thriving, contrary to some opinions. Hon Drigo refuted statements about the agriculture industry made by Opposition member, Senator Felix Thomas at the recent sitting of Parliament.
The Agriculture Minister supported this view by sharing some of the most recent success stories in the industry, starting with the double increase of acreage in white potatoes – from 36 to 63 acres.
“There is growth in agriculture and our farmers are working hard; our farmers are expanding their production. So when we hear people every day crying out loud that agriculture is dead, agriculture is on the decline, they are not living in the same world as we are living. Because, we all know that we took a pounding from Black Sigatoka and prolonged drought in 2014. Since then we have consistently supported our farmers by providing them with fertilizers, fresh planting materials, by giving them all the support that they needed. We know across the board- north, south, east and west- in all key areas of the sector, farmers are expanding.”
He added that in the north-east, farmers are looking to expand production of white potatoes as it has now become a seasonal crop particularly in Calibishie.
A total of 946 bags of seeds were purchased by farmers last season which yielded well over one million pounds - an estimated value of $1.5m.
The Agriculture Minister also divulged that citrus seedlings have been sold out due to increasing demand and his Ministry is looking to increase the number of tree crop seedlings available to farmers ahead of the next planting season.
“The strategic agenda of the Ministry includes expansion of a number of tree crops. This includes nutmeg, cloves, soursop [sapodilla], avocado, coconuts to name a few.”
Source: news.gov.dm
