Core Banana and Plantain farmers will support in the form of tools, fertilizers and soil amendments to assist them with general husbandry exercises and to increase production and profitability.
Through the intervention of the World Bank Funded, Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, from June 1st, 2023 farmers will be provided with assistance based on their cultivated acreages and production levels.
Farmers will receive packages from two categories: two acres but less than three acres under active cultivation will receive an incentive package valued at $5,400.00 and those with three acres but less than six acres will receive packages worth $10,800.00.
Project Manager Mr. Kervin Stephenson reiterated that the industry continues to present a great opportunity for local farmers as the cultivation of these national priority crops is critical to safeguarding Dominica’s food security and contributing to foreign exchange earnings.
It is against this background that the Ministry has aligned the production of these crops with the ongoing ‘Eat Local, Live Long’ initiative.
According to Mr. Stephenson the sector has already shown its ability to transform the lives of rural families and this injection of resources will enable farmers to further advance themselves and nation.
“With the resources provided by the Government of Dominica and through the Ministry’s policy directive we continue to provide stability to the sector, and through the equitable distribution of supplies the structure of the Banana and Plantain Unit and other units within the Ministry will make advancements.”
The Government of Dominica remains committed to strengthening the institutional capacity to facilitate the increase in banana and plantain production levels on island.
This undertaking was reiterated by the Director of Agriculture Mr. Ricky Brumant at a one-day consultation with over seventy (70) core banana and plantain farmers at the Conference Room at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium.
