Dominica Banana New Plans to Revitalize Agricultural Sector
ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government Monday outlined a new package of assistance to help revitalize the banana industry as well as the agricultural sector.
Agriculture Minister Mathew Walter said that the Roosevelt Skerrit government is also making available one million EC dollars (US$370,370) through the Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank (AID Bank) for lending to farmers on a 50 per cent loan and 50 per cent grant scheme basis.
“This will go towards farm rehabilitation, replanting and expansion according to the needs and willingness of the farmers. We expect that about 535 acres will be improved to higher levels of production by year end”.
He said this intervention by the government is the first phase of a comprehensive banana recovery and sustainability project designed also to support farmers who are opting out of banana production as well as to assist others acquire necessary input to develop their farms.
He said that EC$500,000 (US$185,185) would be made available to help farmers who are unable to secure funds under the 50/50 loan at the AID Bank.
He said under the diversification and support horticulture programme, government would continue to provide plant material, technical assistance, new technology and financing to farmers for adaptation to new farming systems.
“These programmes amount to some four million dollars (US$1.4 million) and will support farmers who are opting out of banana production to alternative crop production.
“The benefit of these programmes to farmers and our country is also being manifested with the banana sector recording significant growth in 2009,” he said, adding that Cabinet had recently approved the continuation of the subsidization of fertilizer “which will ensure that the cost of fertilizers will not exceed EC$45 (US$1.66) per 25 kilogramme bag”.