The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) trained Dominican farmers on seamoss production. Led by the sub-regional coordinator for FAO, Dr. Renata Clark, the training and stakeholder validation workshop held from May 15-20, 2023.
Clark said the overall objective of the training and validation seminar is to equip Dominicans with the skills necessary for increased seamoss production, and to enable them market their processed seamoss to international markets. The training facilitators conducted assessments for seamoss cultivation sites, taught affordable strategies for producing seamoss products, and gave out safety tools and equipment for seamoss production.
The FAO coordinator said there is an existing seamoss production base in Dominica, and that people already produce bottled seamoss beverages and seamoss that could be used for medical purposes. She said with high-quality seamoss, the material can be used in the food and beverage industry as well as in the manufacturing sector. She said seamoss is also used as an additive for several consumer products.
According to her, many other countries around the world cultivate seamoss in large quantities, and Dominica must be strategically positioned to compete favourably with other producers in other countries. She said seamoss must not only be cultivated in the wild but in commercial varieties across coastal communities around the country.
The trainers and trainees went round to several communities where seamoss can be grown and harvested. The organizers agreed to empower three farmer cooperatives in Calibishie, Woodford Hill, and Grand Bay to cultivate and process the red seaweed at local commercial agro-processing centres. The training seminar was attended by seamoss farmer cooperatives, agro-processors, retailers, exporters, and government stakeholders.
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