Through the “Integrated Agriculture Land Use and Ecosystems-based Fisheries Management Planning for a Resilient Agri-food System Project”, in the Commonwealth of Dominica, twenty (20) commercial farmers, thirty-five (35) frontline Extension and Plant Protection Officers will engage in a pilot project to introduce ‘high performing varieties of dasheen’ on island.
As part of an in-country mission conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Dominica from February 5-7 2024, which facilitated the Validation of the Dominica Dasheen Upgrading Strategy & Cost of Production Presentation and Training Workshop, farmers expressed concerns of the absence of identifiable ‘high performing varieties ‘of dasheen plants which are being utilized in the neighboring islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Pilot will consist of three training sessions on good production practices for cultivating the dasheen crop will be conducted on:
- October 9th Frontline Extension, Plant Protection at the Dominica China Agricultural Science Complex facility Portsmouth
- October 15 Farmers of Belles and environs
- October 16 Farmers of the South East Region: La Plaine, Morne Jaune, Riviere Cyrique, Newfoundland and Delices
Other outcomes will include a standardized production manual and fact sheet, propagation and crop establishment training with these varieties and their distribution thereafter to farmers. These activities will be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy and supported by local roots and tubers consultant Dr. Greg Robin. Funding for the project is being provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
