Minister of Trade Wants a Ban on Import and Export of Agricultural Produce

Barbara 9th August, 2023

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Farm Local Food Vegetables Dasheen Plantain

The Minister of Trade, Vince Henderson, wants the government to ban the importation and exportation of agricultural produce in Dominica. Henderson said all leafy vegetables should no longer be brought into the country – most especially vegetables cultivated in Dominica. He added that agricultural products should be subject to special tariffs to discourage regional trade.

According to the trade minister, food security will be enhanced in Dominica if the agricultural sector is insulated against external interference. He said that agriculture players must improve their business interactions with the government to enjoy more official support in the sector. He tasked commercial farmers to scale up their productivity to guarantee food security across the Island.

Citing the history of banana boom in the country, Henderson said the agricultural sector could experience a significant boom similar to the banana industry if all hands are on deck. While drawing a parallel between the past banana boom and potential food security in Dominica, the government minister said the DLP administration remains supportive of farmers to no end.

Meanwhile, an agricultural expert in the coutry, Adrien Bannis, said the banana boom era can be replicated in the entire agricultural sector with a long-term strategy. He said the government must equip farmers with the necessary crop yields and farming implements to achieve optimum production, and that the farmers on the Island must undergo intensive training on modern farming techniques.

Henderson and Bannis together with other food security experts agree that all Dominicans and the government have concerted roles to play in boosting and guaranteeing food security for all. Part of the strategy involves banning importation of crops grown in the country, upgrading farming techniques and machineries, training farmers on production skills, as well as favourable government policies for the agriculture sector.