Dominica’s branded coffee may soon hit regional and international markets, said agriculture minister Roland Royer. The government official said Dominica will import green coffee beans from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Venezuela and then sell the processed coffee back to them as branded products.
Royer said the government has invested about $4 million into rehabilitating of the coffee plant in Portsmouth and that technical equipment are enroute to Dominica to set up the facility. He disclosed that a technical consultant will be hired to set up the coffee production plant and train Dominicans on running the facility.
According to Royer, the machineries and technical equipment required for the factory will arrive to the country before May. He added that about $2 million BTU of natural gas will be needed to get the coffee plant functional and that everything is being put in place for a kickoff before the end of 2023 or early 2024.
So far we have brought water, DOWASCO lines to the facility that were not there before, and of course, we work with DOMLEC as well to install and replace the transformer which will be commissioned when we are ready to operate the facility. So once there is sufficient coffee on island we will start doing our own coffee brand and market Dominica’s coffee.
Hon. Roland Royer, Minister of Agriculture
Meanwhile, the agriculture minister has also assured farmers that products sold to DEXIA will be paid for within 48 hours under a World Bank assisted programme under which the DLP administration has earmarked $5 million. He assured farmers that DEXIA is working on expediting payments for crops supplied, and that Dominican farm products have higher prospects of demand in international markets.
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