Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

A memorandum of understanding, which is expected to place the banana industry back on a sound footing, has been signed between the Dominica National Fair Trade Organisation and the Dominica Banana Producers Limited (DBPL). The terms and conditions of the understanding include four (4) main areas including leaf-spot control, procurement of production input and packaging materials.

Both parties have agreed to facilitate farmers to use their input cess to transact business between the two organisations. This will be guided by an input cess procedure document which was agreed to by both organisations. In addition, the two organisations will jointly procure fertilisers required for use in the banana industry.

In addressing a press conference on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Matthew Walter, said that the local banana industry has been severely affected due to a drop in prices on the international market; notwithstanding, there is still hope for Dominica bananas.

“Over the past weeks, there has been a price war among the United Kingdom supermarkets from eighty-seven (87) pence in January of this year, to thirty-eight (38) pence as from this week, resulting in further reduction in prices. However, there is a brighter side. We continue to do well on the regional market. In fact, the DBPL has exported in excess of forty-two thousand (42 000) boxes of bananas to the region market. There are clear indications that there is demand for Dominican bananas on the regional market.

From this perspective, Dominica must now define what role the banana industry should play in economic growth and development, employment and income, poverty reduction and livelihood sustainability. We must now vision for the industry in the context of greater market challenges and opportunities. We have commenced this process with the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the two (2) main players in the industry: the Dominica National Fair Trade Organisation and the Dominica Banana Producers Limited.”

The Agriculture Minister, at the press conference, assured farmers that Government remains committed to working with the farmers and will do all in its power to stimulate growth in that sector.

“Government will work with WINFRESH (formerly WIBDECO) to further diversity and expand Dominica’s export portfolio and the diversification of the agricultural sector. We will facilitate and engage in bulk purchasing of fertiliser. We will work with all stakeholders in the banana industry and we will undertake extensive training of farmers to ensure that they meet market requirements and that they develop a systematic approach to farming. We will continue our support to the agricultural sector so that that contribution of that sector can acquire new dynamism in the process of economic growth and development.”

The banana industry once was Dominica’s main foreign earner two decades ago but a combination of tropical cyclones, loss of preferential treatment of Windward Island bananas among other factors led to the continued drop in exports of bananas and a significant reduction in foreign earnings from the sale of bananas.