Various stakeholders will gather to learn how they can become involved in building a competitive and resilient Seamoss Industry in Dominica.
During the week of May 15-20, 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will carry out site assessments, production trainings, and a stakeholder validation workshop aimed at supporting the development of Dominica’s seamoss industry.
The week will commence with the visit of several sites where seamoss is currently or has the potential to be grown and harvested, as well as meetings with local commercial agro-processors. This will be followed by on site trainings and demonstrations in methods and techniques to improve productivity, and increase seamoss yields among three (3) farmer cooperatives: Calibishie, Woodford Hill and Grand Bay. During this week, safety equipment, and tools for farming seamoss will also be handed over to the Fisheries Division for distribution among the groups.
On Friday, May 19, the week will culminate with a Stakeholder Validation Workshop with representatives from relevant government agencies, seamoss farmer cooperatives, agroprocessors, retailers, exporters, and other stakeholders at the Roseau Fisheries Complex to discuss and validate upgrading strategies for the development of Dominica’s Seamoss industry. It is expected that implementation of the upgrading strategies will strengthen the participation of and increase the earning potential of all actors in the seamoss value chain.
These activities are being spearheaded by the FAO through two projects of the organization’s Technical Cooperation Programme entitled, “Sustainable Development of Resilient Value Chains – Implementation of CARICOM COVID-19 Agri-Food Recovery Plan” and “COVID-19 Agri-Food Response for Sustainable Development of Competitive and Resilient Value Chains in support of the Hand-in-Hand Initiative”.
