Green Antilles

The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian recently reported on some of the challenges faced by farmers in Dominica. Here’s an excerpt:

Ruby Joyce … has more than 200 citrus trees, namely grapefruit and orange, and root crops: dasheen, yam and tania. Joyce said her production and labour are low. “It’s just my husband, a couple workers and myself.” Her average weekly production is 900 grafted oranges. Joyce, who has been in farming since she was a little child, finds it difficult to persuade any of her nine children—the youngest being 32—to step into farming. Joyce said unlike her children, farming is all she has ever known.

“I grew up in farming and prefer to work for myself, but it’s a challenge for the youth to get involved.” Farming in Dominica, she said, is looked upon as a last resort for people who cannot find a job or have limited education. Asked if she exports her produce, Joyce said someone buys from her and exports to Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Maarten. The Dominica Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sends extension officers to visit farmers to collect data, educate, guide and train them on new farming techniques. Joyce said the information given by the extension officers is not helpful. She would like advice on markets for her produce. She sources buyers on her own.

…

Diana Henry, agriculture officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, agreed there are limited markets, the hucksters and exporters cheat the farmers out of their produce. She said the data that extension officers collect from farmers—yields, method of farming, and pest control—are not used effectively. Henry said there is a disconnect in the approach used to communicate to farmers. Henry said there are plans by the ministry to create a bottom-up approach and change the method of communicating with farmers.

While this is so, Henry said farmers do not show up for training or workshop. The farmers have said they are too busy tending their land. Some farmers ignore advice on natural farming. The culture is one in which the social and technological profile is low, education is limited and farmers are still using traditional methods. Henry said government had instituted certain programmes to encourage the youth in agriculture, without success. Agriculture is still unattractive and farmers are discouraging their children from it.

For more, read the full Guardian article, found via the Dominican Food and Drink Guide on Facebook.

[Photos: Mike Moses via guardian.co.tt]

Dominica was recently featured in an episode of the Growing a Greener World (GGW) TV series:

Imagine the world is an island, and all of its resources conserved in a sustainable way – clean, abundant water, environmentally-friendly agriculture, and preservation of forest and habitats – an island where every action is carefully examined for its impact on the current and future health of the environment.

The Caribbean island of Dominica strives to do all of these things. It is known as “The Nature Isle of the Caribbean” for its unspoiled natural beauty, with rivers, waterfalls, rainforest, hot spring, and sandy beaches. The commitment by the people and the government of Dominica is inspiring, with a focus on conserving these natural resources, while building new economies around ecotourism and sustainable agriculture.

Visit the GGW website to view the episode online.

[Photo: via Growing a Greener World]

The 3rd Edition of Dominica’s Whistle Like A Bird (WLAB) Contest was held on Thursday May 19, 2011, as part of the Caribbean Endemic Birds Festival.

Previously on Green Antilles: Dominica’s Whistle like a bird competition 2010 and Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival 2011.

In the week leading up to World Environment Day 2011, a primary school in Dominica has been celebrating their own Environment Week:

The Tete Morne Primary School is conducting a week of activities to foster environmental awareness among its students as well as the general public. The school has named this week, May 30th to June 3rd , Environment Week.

Activities are planned for each day, and involve students and teachers.

On Monday, the week was launched by Principal and staff and the students of Grade Six took part in a school clean-up. They did some weeding of the flower garden and the yard and beautified their surroundings.

On Tuesday, and Wednesday, students and staff focused on ways they could reduce litter, and improve their community.

On Thursday, they [received] a visit by the District Environmental Health Officer, Mr Craig Lebruin, [who made] presentations to the students and involve[d] them in discussions about problems that are to be found in their villages as well as outline the solutions to these problems. Topics … discussed include rodent infestation, mosquito breeding, liquid waste disposal, hygiene and sanitation.

Also on Thursday, the students and staff [took part] in a big Community Clean-Up project. This has been held once before by the school and generated much interest and support.

…

It [was] planned that the students of the lower Grades, including K,1, and 2 [would] do a walk-through along the village roads and collect garbage in plastic bags, Grades 3 and 4 … a Beach Clean-Up along the bay area in Grand Bay, students of Grades 5 & 6 … a River Clean–Up, walking along the river.

Read more in the full article from Dominica News Online.

[Photo: via dominicanewsonline.com]