Modernizing Agriculture in Dominica

New facilities and technology set to increase Productivity and Export potential

Agribusiness and aquaculture play a vital role in the economy of Dominica, a Caribbean island that heavily relies on agriculture. In recent years, the government has taken significant steps towards modernizing and developing the agriculture sector to increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create more employment opportunities. Hon. Roland Royer, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Green and Blue Economy states, “ There has been an impressive recovery post-Hurricane Maria (2017) in the agriculture sector. If you look at the contribution to GDP,  in 2016, it was about 245 million ECD. In 2022, the GDP contribution was 266 million. This shows that we are back on track.”

This article focuses on two recent developments in the agriculture sector in Dominica: the new national agro-processing facility and the new agriculture station with tissue culture technology.

New National Agro-Processing Facility

Last year, Dominica announced the opening of a new national agro-processing facility. This facility is a significant step towards modernizing the agriculture sector in the country. The facility provides farmers with the necessary infrastructure to process and package their agricultural products for local and international markets. The facility seeks to strengthen the food value chain, improve quality standards, and widen access to export markets.

This new facility will be a game-changer for the agriculture sector in Dominica. It will help farmers to add value to their products and create new revenue streams. With the new facility, farmers can produce high-quality products that meet international standards, which will increase their export potential. The facility will also create employment opportunities in the local community, especially for young people.

New Agriculture Station with Tissue Culture Technology

The agriculture sector in Dominica is set to receive a significant boost with the development of a new agriculture station with tissue culture technology. The project is being developed with the help of the Chinese government, and it is expected to increase the contribution of the agriculture sector to the country’s GDP to $700 million. The construction of the ten-million-dollar China-Aided Project of the Dominica Agricultural Science Complex Building will enable the production of clean planting material for distribution to farmers engaged in commercial production and expand the base of varieties of plant species. 

The new agriculture station will use tissue culture technology to produce high-quality plants, using technology that involves the production of new plants from small pieces of the mother plant. This method is faster, more efficient, and produces disease-free plants.

Dominica’s Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit welcomed the research and development facility stating that it will assure food security in Dominica. 

The Prime Minister believes that, with support from the public, the facility will play a significant role in boosting the Government’s goal to increase the contribution of Agriculture to the GDP to 700 million dollars by 2030. 

The new agriculture station will also provide farmers with training on how to use tissue culture technology to produce high-quality plants. The training will equip farmers with the necessary skills to improve their productivity and increase their income. This will ultimately lead to the creation of more job opportunities in the agriculture sector.

The agriculture sector in Dominica is a vital part of the country’s economy. With the new national agro-processing facility and the new agriculture station with tissue culture technology, the government is taking significant steps toward modernizing and developing the sector. These developments will help farmers to add value to their products, produce high-quality plants, and increase their export potential. The developments will also create employment opportunities in the local community and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Invest Dominica Authority (IDA) is the Commonwealth of Dominica’s government agency to promote Dominica as the location of choice for international investment and to assist them in establishing operations on the island. Contact us here for more information on Agribusiness and investment opportunities in Dominica.