The government hosted a ground-breaking ceremony targeted at constructing an agricultural science complex facility in One-Mile, Portsmouth. The ceremony was led by the Minister for Agriculture, Fidel Grant, who stated that the facility will operate as a new tissue culture laboratory for crop production.
Grant also said scientific research, academic teaching, and tissue culture of crop seedlings will take place at the centre. At full capacity, the research centre will aid the production of 100,000 plant seedlings that will improve food security in Dominica through an eco-friendly, innovative, diversified, and market-driven food economy.
The construction of the agriculture complex will cost $4 million.
In a related vein, the government has also entered into agreement with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) to boost white potato production in Dominica. Funded by the government of Canada under the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) project, the initiative aims to increase production of white potatoes for countrywide consumption and regional export.
The policy vision is bearing fruit. We have deepened our bread basket. We continue to expand our food offerings to the Dominican population. Under our horticulture programme, we have ventured into non-traditional and exotic fruits and vegetable production but we have not left behind the years of experimentation and the trials on some of our short-term crops such as potatoes which continue to generate income to many farmers.
Hon. Fidel Grant, Minister for Agriculture
As it stands, the agriculture minister said about 145 households depend solely on cultivating white potatoes for their family incomes. He said the government is looking ahead to ensure abundant potatoes for family consumption as well as importation of more than 200 tons to regional markets on an annual basis. To this end, WUSC Caribbean donated tillers to two women farming groups in Dominica to boost the cultivation of white potatoes.
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