Dominica imports 150 disease-resistant dasheen plants to boost food security and strengthen climate resilience in the agricultural sector.
Dominica: About 150 Samoana and IND 512 plants have been imported to Dominica to strengthen the production of dasheen in the country and build resilience to new diseases in the agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy have shared some ground-breaking news for the agriculture sector in Dominica.
In their efforts to strengthen food security in the country, the Agriculture Ministry, in partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has introduced climate-resilient crop varieties within the root crop sub-sector.
Together with CARDI, the Ministry has imported 150 germplasm disease-resistant dasheen plants (Samoana and IND 512) to increase production in Dominica. The Tissue Culture Laboratory Manager, Trevorne Douglas, shared that the initiative is not only about increasing the farmers’ productivity but also resilience in the agricultural sector.
📎 FACEBOOK embed: https://www.facebook.com/minofagridom/posts/pfbid0JHeMm5GqsziunpvrSVbE5R1iQZF8qJUueaMg7QS6SixbnsTpg49Kwrg31wMRGKhsl
“It’s about productivity and building resilience within the agricultural sector by bringing in genetic material that may show levels of resistance to the prevailing disease and pest problems that we have in Dominica,” stated Manager Douglas.
The plants were sourced from the South Pacific and received from the Tissue Culture Lab at Orange Hill, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Lab Manager explained that the two varieties (Samoana and IND 512), based on the report given by St. Vincent’s lab, have received positive reports in terms of their productivity. He looks forward to them yielding the same results in Dominica and being included in the country’s production system.
According to the Ministry, the crops are currently in the research phase, where two varieties are undergoing evaluation. The Ministry revealed that the two crops first underwent propagation and hardening at the Dominica-China Agricultural Science Complex Tissue Culture Lab and are now at the La Plaine Agricultural Station, where they are receiving continuous monitoring.
The Ministry shared this news on its official Facebook page with the caption, “Rise and Thrive! Building Resilience in Agriculture!” It has also explained the significance of this project and what it will do for the country.
The Agricultural Ministry has also invited all farmers to attend the upcoming OECS Root Crop Symposium, which is scheduled for May 7-8.