Roseau, Dominica: The frontlines officers of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Blue and Green Economy and the West Agricultural Region of the Commonwealth of Dominica engage Primary Schools within their catchment area for the expansion of their agricultural gardens.
Through seedlings supplied by the Chinese Technical Mission in One Mile Portsmouth, students of the Dublanc Primary School received cherry tomato, lettuce and culinary herbs seedlings for establishment in their greenhouse for use in their school kitchen/school feeding programme.
The Coulibistrie, Colihaut and Salisbury Schools will be receiving seedlings during the next coming weeks. One of the goals of the Ministry is to ensure that students are exposed practically to simple agricultural systems and commodities which can be easily replicated within their home/community settings.
The Ministry of Agriculture shared the photos of Extension officer Keston Williams (left) teacher Joycelyn Alexis Joseph and Extension Officer Davis Carbon front: Students of the Dublanc Primary School.
White potato farmers continue the establishment of the crop. This commodity is considered a quick cash crop with a return on investment of approximately three months post-planting.
White potatoes of several varieties, including Desiree, Spunta, El Mundo and Carl White, have shown excellent results over the years and this year, with the increase of imported elite seeds by the Ministry, looks forward to an excellent season.
White potato Season continues. Yesterday the Minister of State Jullan Defoe, officers of the Ministry and the Parliamentary Representative for the area Vince Henderson met with farmers from Bellevue Chopin, Pichlen and Grand Bay involved in White Potato production.
Farmers and staff engaged in discussions about last year’s season, issues affecting production this year and marketing of the crop. Meetings are also scheduled for Giraudel/Eggleston and Calibishie throughout next week.
Permanent Secretary Dr Kyra Paul has officially ended her tenure with Ministry and has been reassigned to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Dr Paul, who served as the PS for about two years, ushered in a professional approach to the sector, ensuring that farmers and fishers realized its maximum gains and benefits while pursuing a long-term vision of resiliency, continuity and value addition.
The Staff of all Units within the Ministry held a small send-off for PS Paul late last week.
The Minister for Agriculture brought much happiness to several institutions around the island with the delivery of fresh produce and meats to various institutions which serve the elderly, vulnerable and less fortunate among them.
The activity, which was first undertaken in December 1981, was conceptualized to assist charitable and needy institutions to supplement the nutritional needs of their residents and hence enable these residents to enjoy the festive season comparable with what would obtain at the family and community levels.
Originally most of the produce would be sourced from the Agricultural Stations with some contribution from farmers but over the years with the various programmes of assistance and interventions being provided a significant amount of a wide range of crops are now willingly contributed by farmers Islandwide, truly reflecting the synergies between the extension services, the administrators of the Ministry and the farmers of Dominica.
The Minister thus serves as the representative of these groups who all seek to bring cheer, good tidings and hearty meals to the residents of these institutions during the Christmas Season.
