Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Honourable Reginald Austrie, has emphasized the need for food security in Dominica. He also encouraged Dominicans to consume healthy local foods grown on the Island to enjoy all-round wellness.
Austrie said it is true that the country has a tropical climate that favours food abundance, but this should not be taken for granted since any natural factors could shatter this assurance. Some of these factors include weather, natural disasters, and crop pests and diseases among others.
“We have an aging farming population,” Honourable Austrie said. “We have to address this. Give us ten or fifteen years, if that is not addressed in a very practical manner, we may have challenges at the markets.”
Apart from the need to increase local crop production to guarantee food security, Austrie said it is necessary to consume local foods grown organically. He said imported foods are not safe for consumption because of the high risks of communicable diseases. He emphasized that foreign foods are high in sugar and salt, compounds that raise the risks of diabetes and hypertension among others.
We have already begun the process of placing importation bans on certain items. Also, the issue of importation of certain food items loaded with sugar or both loaded with salt, most of that for preservation purposes. Our diabetes and hypertension really come into question there as to what we consume.
Hon. Reginald Austrie: Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
He encouraged stakeholders such as politicians, farmers, caterers, chefs, and family heads to promote consumption of healthy diets throughout the country.
To this end, the minister said about 4,000 farmers and fishermen will be empowered for greater productivity under the Dominica Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project. This project is funded by the World Bank and runs for two years. Eligible candidates include farmers, fishermen, animal breeders and boat builders among others.
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