The Ministry of Blue and Green Economy, Agriculture and National Food Security, last week entered into a formal contract with STEWCO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Ltd, for the refurbishment of the former Londonderry Tissue Facility and converting this into an office space and training facility for the North East Agricultural Region staff and the farmers they serve.

The Dominica Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project (ERLCAP), funded by the Government of Dominica through the World Bank has been charged with implementation of the resorting agricultural livelihoods and enhancing the climate resilience methodologies used by famers and fisherfolk affected by Hurricane Maria in 2017.  

One of the Project Implementation Unit’s (PIU) Components is to restoration of key infrastructure within the agricultural, livestock and forest sector including restoration of the Ministry’s office space and facilities.

The contract valued at EC$ 359,729.40, was awarded to STEWCO Construction Company, upon completion of the evaluation exercise from a field of eight (8) firms which expressed interest  and five (5) which submitted Request for Quotations in December 2020. Works are expected to commence this week with completion date projected for October 2021.

 The North East Agricultural region, is the largest farming belt on island serving farmers from Concord to Blenheim including Woodford Hill, Wesley, Marigot and Calibishie. The new office facilities will be an improvement in the overall ambient work environment and facilitate a better space for trainings and farmers meetings. Presently the staff has been given make shift accommodation within the Marigot Fisheries Complex,

The Emergency Agriculture Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project (EALCRP), the five -year, World Bank Funded Project, which has been under Implementation for three years has made significant progress. This is part of Sub Component B1- Restoration of Infrastructure.

Following the devastations of Hurricane Maria, the Government of Dominica received financial support from the World Bank to the tune of US$25. Million, equivalent to EC$68 million dollars for the implementation of the “Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project (EALCRP).

It is designed to help farmers and fisher folk affected by Hurricane Maria restore their agriculture and fishing livelihoods and adopt climate resilient practices.