Rebuilding Farming and Irrigation System Priorities in Dominica Post Hurricane

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Dominica's agriculture minister convened to discuss how the Caribbean island can restore irrigation systems and road access to farming areas after Hurricane Maria, seen as its top priority.

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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Johnson Drigo held the talks, which also revolved around the importance of rebuilding agriculture that is sustainable and resilient to future tropical storms, according to Caribbean News Now.

Also present at the meeting was Dominica's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Harold Guiste and FAO's Subregional Coordinator for the Caribbean Lystra Fletcher-Paul. They affirmed that the repair of Dominica's irrigation systems would be a goal capable of restoring crops, particularly during the upcoming dry season.

“The restoration of the agriculture sector is a priority for the government of Dominica for national food security and we must ensure that all farmers, especially those in remote areas have access for their produce to get to the market,” Drigo said.

Fletcher-Paul presented Drigo with a variety of vegetable seeds, fertilizers and farming tools as part of FAO's commitment to helping Dominica's agricultural sector.

“The seeds and tools are just a small part of the inputs which are being provided by FAO and symbolize our commitment to work with the government of the Commonwealth of Dominica to restore the livelihoods of the affected farmers, but more importantly, to build back the agriculture sector so that it is better and more resilient,” she said.

Fletcher-Paul added that the regeneration of agriculture on the Caribbean island should be accompanied by climate-smart technologies that will minimize vulnerability to future hurricanes and other tropical storms.