Dominica plans to establish a new agro-processing facility to support farmers, reduce post-harvest losses and expand markets for local products.
Dominica: The Government of Dominica has announced plans to establish a new agro-processing facility in the country as part of its greater effort to boost agricultural development and expand opportunities for farmers across Dominica.
Speaking in Parliament during his presentation of the National Budget for the fiscal year 2026/2027, Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience and Social Security, Dr. Irving McIntyre, made the announcement while outlining the Government’s investments in the agricultural sector.
The Minister of Finance reported that from July 2017 to June 2026, the Government has invested EC$252.5 million in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, agricultural infrastructure and food security. He added that the Government’s strategy for Dominica’s agricultural sector is focused not only on production, but also adding value, opening new markets and generating greater returns for the stakeholders.
Government's strategy for transforming agriculture is equally focused on adding value to what we produce, expanding market access and creating greater economic returns for our farmers and agro-processors, the Minister of Finance stated.
The Minister then announced that the Government's next phase is to establish a new multipurpose agro-processing facility which will enable the country’s agricultural products to be “processed, branded and marketed on a commercial scale.” According to him, the feasibility study, architectural designs and cost estimates for the facility have been completed.
Dr. Irving McIntyre explained that the agricultural facility will provide commercial-scale processing infrastructure for root crops and tropical fruits as well as incubation space to produce value-added products such as honey, sauces, jams, herbs and spices. He noted that it will provide significant benefits to the stakeholders and the consumers, including reducing post-harvest losses.
This investment will reduce post-harvest losses by creating reliable markets for fresh produce and enabling surpluses to become higher-value, shelf-stable products. For the farmer, that means less income rotting after harvest. For the consumer, it means a longer local selling season and more Dominican alternatives when imported products become scarce or expensive. For the entrepreneur, it creates room to turn a crop into a branded product with a higher return, Dr. McIntyre explained.
The initiative follows and complements other investments made over the past year, including the purchase of over 938,000 pounds of agricultural produce, more than EC$4 million being invested in supporting over 150 agro-processors and an additional EC$1 million to support the commercialisation of local products.