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SOME STRATEGIC PLANS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF DOMINICA
by Osmond O. Barono

Executive Summary

This paper provides focused strategic plans recommended to the Government of Dominica/Ministry of Agriculture for the development of the agricultural sector re crop and ornamental horticulture production and marketing. The ultimate aim is to generate employment for rural communities where potential opportunities exist. It is without doubt that agriculture especially crop production and marketing is the backbone of Dominica's economy. Hence its full productive potential should be explored and released.

The strategic goals and objectives are included in each strategic issue discussed. The strategic issues are as follows: -

Bananas & the Banana Industry
Ornamental Horticulture
- Cut flowers and foliages
- D/A International Airport landscape project
- Growing medium project
Crops of great marketing potential
- Vanilla
- Ginger
- Hot pepper

TRENDS AND CONDITIONS ANALYSIS

Dominica's natural features, fertile soils, abundance of water and adequate annual rainfall distribution, low levels of pests, and a very hard working people are great opportunities for a viable horticultural and agricultural industry.

The threats and weaknesses though, must be understood, and appropriate actions taken in order to take advantage of these opportunities and strengths. Preferential treatment we enjoyed for bananas once 'green gold' is being phased out. Banana production is at its lowest realm. Farming population is growing out of productive age, while new young productive men and women are not attracted. There is a lack of school curriculum geared towards agriculture. Lack of infrastructural support is critical, especially the absence of an international (jet) airport crucial to international marketing of fresh agricultural and horticultural products.

Strategic Issue 1
Bananas & the Banana Industry

The phasing out of the banana protocol in the next six years is certainly a critical and serious threat issue that needs urgent attention. There is no doubt that open market equals strong competition. However strategies can be developed to dispel gloom and doom.

1 (a) Strategic goal and objectives

The banana industry should expand production and maintain consistent top quality in order to be a healthy and competitive force in the market place.

Six years of guaranteed market is still an opportunity to dispose as much as we can (i.e. > 70,000 tons as against 20,000 tons/ year). After this protocol is removed (or meantime while it is being phased out) and potentially being 'swallowed up' in competition we should consider among many alternatives of marketing strategies -

Joint marketing ventures with our competitors
Sell directly to our competitors
- French (Martinique and /or Guadeloupe)
- Latin American Corporations (Chiquita)
'Differentiation' - new banana product
'Combination' i.e. adopt any of the above strategies plus specialized production (say on half of field) of organic bananas for niche markets within the global market.

1(b) Strategies:

Farmers' morale and confidence need to be re-energized in order to boost production and quality. The following list could be considered in this light.

A historic banana festival with a main objective of generating funds to initiate a pension fund for banana farmers
Government intervention in accessing new lands (lease, purchase etc) to new, young farmers
A major replanting scheme
If virgin or well rested soils, organic production could be practiced (for b & c above)
Re-visit the 'wet process technology'- boxing plants
Address labor issues - importation?
'Diplomacy' especially in political circles. Statements on banana issues should never be discouraging to banana growers- be it ruling government or opposition members.

Strategic Issue 2
Ornamental horticulture and landscape

Dominica has a tremendous comparative advantage in its natural resource of abundance of water, fertile soils, and natural features. Great opportunities exist in the regional and extra regional marketing of cut flowers and foliages. These include ginger lilies, heliconias, exotic orchids and others (with the exception of anthuriums) that grow naturally with minimal cost of inputs and even labor!

2 (a) Strategic Goal & Objectives

Dominica should exploit its comparative advantage in the development of a vibrant horticultural industry and great market potential.

2 (b) Strategies:

As mentioned before, an international airport is critical to successful international marketing of horticultural products. Thus a proposed international airport is a step in the right direction. The institutional framework/support is already in existence- in light of MOA (production) and DEXIA (market development, and internet market access by DEXIA or farmers themselves).

Thus DEXIA & MOA should collaborate in selecting volunteer farmers, especially those with access to inexpensive irrigation water (rivers) and in close proximity to air transport for specialized production - say gingers only, heliconias etc.

Personally the author's research work has revealed that there are overseas entreprenuers who are willing to enter joint ventures in this regard on account of international air access which justifies economic feasibility.

There is an added potential advantage to building an international airport. Dominica is remarkably beautiful, in fact the most beautiful exotic island of the world! because of its natural features. An opportunity exists to design this proposed airport to be the most beautifully landscaped airport of the world. This could be done by enhancing the natural beauty by human intervention. Such a venture will create numerous employment opportunities for airport landscape maintenance crew and management, nursery personnel and workers, florists, etc. Also the concept itself is a tourist attraction, which will contribute to viability of the airport, and tourism development in terms of expected increased visits and the stimulation of other tourism products and services (hotels etc).

These hotels, guesthouses, etc would be an added boost to the horticultural industry in terms of landscaping and interiorscaping.

Another area of horticultural development with great potential is in the production of supplies and growing medium for orchids, anthuriums etc. Small enterprises can be established to produce a wide range of products that are in increasing demand in the United States. Products can be produced as raw materials or manufactured goods from the following:

Tree fern fiber, nuggets, totems, Plaques, pots, balls
Charcoal (all grades) including 'wa-chi'
Sugarcane bagasse
Coconut fiber
Larva rock
Orchid baskets (from scrap materials)- cedar, gommiere etc.

Contacts have already been made with a Miami based organization, which showed much interest in this project. Another enterprise can be developed in the tourism trade by growing suitable miniature fragranced orchids on tree fern plaques that have been carved to the map of Dominica. These plaques would be sold to European and other markets with no restrictions, as a souvenir of Dominica. Note if plant material originated from Dominica care should be taken to develop and protect our species and the trade.

A. Strategic Issue 3
Some crops of Great Marketable Potential

The markets for vanilla, ginger and hot pepper have tremendous promise. [http://www.23degreesnorth.com/vanilla.htm; http://www.tintrac.com/rap/bulletins/market/vanilla.html] Farm enterprises reflecting these should be explored.

Vanilla is the second most expensive spice (price range from US$85 to US$ 120/lb of beans) after saffron; although most subjected to competition from imperfect substitutes. The global demand (see second web site above) for real vanilla is estimated at 2,000 MTs per year and that is primarily for high quality flavoring.

3 (a) Strategic Goal and Objective

Dominica should explore the production of high priced commodities like vanilla, grow them organically and regain a competitive edge, especially in the production of vanilla dried beans with very limited or no market restrictions.

3 (b) Strategies

Select a core of interested growers who have had experience in the production of vanilla. Provide these growers with incentives - tree planting materials, organization (Coop), extension support marketing (DEXIA) etc.
Set target acreages for annual production volumes
Grow organically
Expose young people to production techniques, especially pollination, light requirements etc. (Internships from Clifton Dupigny Technical College could be considered).

The strategies above could be applied to other such crops of high marketable value and potential.

B. References

Food 2000 Global Policies for Sustainable Agriculture - Report to the World commission on Environment and Development (1987).
Jeannet Hennessy (1995) Global Marketing Strategies 3rd Edition Houghton Mifflin
OFE International Orchid Supplies (1999). Price list and Catalogue No.18.
Orchids, Orchid Supplies, Bromeliads, Ferns, Sun bulb Co. Inc. (1998)
World Market for Vanilla RAP market information Bulletin # 7 http://www.tintrac.com/rap/bulletins/market/vanilla.html

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