Roseau, Dominica: The extension officers from the Agriculture division of Dominica are currently participating in a Soil Diagnostic Testing Workshop to improve their skills in conducting soil sampling and using portable soil testing kits.
The primary objective of this workshop is to enhance their knowledge and capability to develop a soil health plan nationwide. The agriculture division collects numerous soil samples and conducts complete research to accomplish this.
The workshop is a part of the training program for in-service Extension officers at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus Faculty of Food and Agriculture. It primarily focuses on the Sustainable Soil Health Management Module and Climate Smart Agriculture to improve agricultural production.
The lead instructor and facilitator of this workshop are Gaius Eudoxie, who is facilitating the initiative from the EALCRP/ World Bank funding.
Roland Royer, Dominican Agricultural Minister, also conducted a tour of the island’s agricultural regions with a team of technical officers. Last week, he met with the farmers in the North, North East, West, East and Central agricultural region.
A meeting was held for farmers who missed the tour, and 95 farmers attended the conference. The meeting took place at the Mahaut Emergency Shelter in Jimmit, where the farmers were able to express their concerns and challenges related to their agriculture sector.
They received exceptional guidance to tackle the obstacles and how to move forward. Additionally, community meetings and stakeholder engagement are ongoing for business owners, tour operators, and guides interested in the Waitukubuli National Trail.
Moreover, yesterday, the Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project Team organized a session for Segment 1 (Soufriere, Scotts Head, and Gallion) at Rodney’s Wellness Retreat in Soufriere.
During the session, divers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, tour guides, caterers, bed and breakfast operators, and farmers gave guidance and suggestions to earn additional income from the product.
They all highlighted the fundamental importance of keeping the trail, organizing entertainment sessions, and providing training on the natural flora and fauna as areas that need immediate focus.
The Dominican Agricultural Ministry also displayed its plans to encourage young farmers to participate more in the farming sector. The main objective behind promoting Youth in Agriculture is to increase the sector’s economic contribution to GDP.
According to the data observed from the past five years, the value has increased from XCD 179.95 in 2018 to XCD 284.53 in 2022.
Dominica’s economic growth has always depended on its natural and human resources. The country always seeks development by utilizing these valuable resources.
Unfortunately, the primary resource issue that threatens the agricultural sector’s performance is the less participation of youth in farming, fisheries and agribusiness activities.
According to the Dominican Agricultural Census that occurred in 1995, only 4% of farmers were under 25 and 36% were over 65. Nowadays, the average age of farmers in Dominica is estimated to be over 60 years old.
The current active farmers entered the sector without clear intentions or the essential skills, knowledge, education, and training to make significant progress in the industry.
The Dominican Agricultural Ministry emphasized that the youth in Dominica are an integral part of the culture of Dominica. They can provide fresh and innovative ideas to promote sustainable development for the nation if they are regularly involved.
The Ministry also underlined that to boost agricultural performance and achieve its national targets, it is essential to get the youth involved in developing strong leadership in the sector. The presence of youth will attract more young individuals to assume agriculture as a prosperous and entrepreneurial profession.