PS Thomas describes agricultural marketing consultation as a milestone

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, food and Fishers, Dr. Reginald Thomas has described the holding of a marketing consultation as a new milestone and and a new direction that will lead to the development of agricultural marketing in Dominica.

He spoke at a marketing consultation on the ‘Overview of the Public Sector Investment Program’ with the aim of improving market arrangements for commodities that are produced locally with a view to increase local consumption, export volumes and strengthen marketing arrangements for agricultural commodities.

The consultation was held at the Fort Young Hotel Conference Room on Thursday, February 14th, 2019.

Thomas said the ministry of agriculture is providing funding for that initiative has met with various exporters and discussed expanding the agricultural sector.

“This new approach to our agricultural development put us at the perfect demarcation point where we are moving from the mere support of production to the support of production and marketing of agricultural commodities. The ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries is presently funding under the Public Sector Investment Programme, various programmes to the tune of $27 million,” he stated

Thomas went on to say, “Last year we meet with a group of exporters where the minister of agriculture Hon Reginald Austrie had a discussion with these exporters, really bringing the need for organisation and coordination so that the ministry can be that production coordinating arm, to allow for the expansion of the agricultural sector,”

He also stated the Ministry of Agriculture would like to determine the demand for agricultural produce from local buyers including exporters, super markets, hotels, restaurants, vendors and others. This information, he said, will help the ministry to plan production support programmes to adequately meet the needs of the local marketers.”

Thomas thanked all fishers and farmers for getting back into production after Hurricane Maria and cited the efforts of the ministry to encourage producers to go back to the soil and sea respectively.

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15 Comments

  1. victim
    February 18, 2019

    all the time they were listening to Ivor Nassief telling them agriculture is a has been industry, Tourism is everybody business “I am Dominica are you ?”

    Glad they realized how wrong they were smdh !

  2. Braindamage
    February 17, 2019

    That’s good news from our Agricultural sector. Keep it up Dr. RT! The Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit is proud of such great work. The Farmers are happy now, more money in their pockets…..

  3. viewsexpressed
    February 16, 2019

    “PS Thomas describes agricultural marketing consultation as a milestone” Thomas you better watch it because in this misery and poverty in Domininca that word “MileStone” could mean many things. You may be talking or addressing the intellectual and those able to read fluently in your language, but those hungry: no more farming, reduced agriculture will turn about and cry at this “Mile-Stone” language at you. As this intellectual, this doctor, these people do not have a professional business to go to arrive at that Milestone that you have achieved. These farmers in the country are starving, no cash, are now beggars and crying and we dont see the banana boats coming anymore, this a “Milestone” that has been thrown at sea. What else can a poor person do with this fake milestone…throw at the waves in the sea and in the fast flowing rivers? Civil servants like me, please wake up and smell the coffee, there is no development taking place in Domininca, so technocrats talk and talk…

  4. Self
    February 15, 2019

    Hey in case you jokers do not know, agriculture is dead, i reapeat, DEAD in Dominica. Thanks to Roosevelt Skerrit.

  5. viewsexpressed
    February 15, 2019

    Dr. Thomas says: “………… the aim of improving market arrangements for commodities that are produced locally ..” This is a story that has been told over and over again. Dr. Thomas please come again We know that you are deep within the government/civil service and that we know that you know who on earth is Skerrit, this failed incompetent Prime (Odd) Minister. I mean for 19 ears we taking about improving markets etc.. and we are in the same old BS where nothing is happening. The old script is being repeated over and over again and Dr. Thomas you know why? Well, it is because there is nothing knew happening to talk about and tell we the people of agriculture. The issue as we know Dr. Thomas and where I sit upstairs, nothing is gonna happen, but just promising the people and pretend that something is happening. It is the old talk civil servants are talking about What?, because this failed Labour Skerrit failed incompetent Labour government are clueless and hopeless and they must…

    • Pipo
      February 16, 2019

      Is that why we making soap with imported tallow, which is animal fat? Wo wants to buy that from Nature Island. Sometimes I really believe these officials talking out o of theiro backside instead of their mouth.

  6. Bee
    February 15, 2019

    DNO Please address the man by his title he earned academically. He is DR. Thomas. I don’t necessarily agree with everything he had to say what with the death of agriculture and all but give to Peter what belong to Peter. Those who get honorary doctor rate that not worth a damn get called Doctor. Have some respect.

    ADMIN: The very first line in the article refers to him as “Dr. Thomas”. The headline has “PS Thomas” because he is speaking in his capacity as the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture.

    • viewsexpressed
      February 16, 2019

      Good response DNO Admin Team. Keep up the good work. Yippee

    • viewsexpressed
      February 16, 2019

      Bee, stop buzzing about blindly and clipped your wings. What on earth is your stress? DNO responded appropriately, it`s like you`re looking for some issue to talk about that you feel nice on social media. The issues you need to focus on if you are interested and is our failed Domininca as we go deeper into poverty, no jobs, Bobol, misappropriation of funds, corruption, a failed PM Skerrit and his incompetent18 ministers. Where have you been? What have you been up to? Are you not aware of who Skerrit is? Have you not been taking notes? Have you not yet comprehend that we have a very failed incompetent Odd Minister Skerrit in Office whom we need to get lost, get out? Dont you see he has hurt or nature island enough and he must Go, he has noting to offer us, he has not offered us anything meaningfully towards our socio-economic development? If not where have you been? Go out campaign to get rid of Skerrit and let`s embrace the alternative decent UWP Team under Hon Lennox Linton. Go for it

    • Dominican
      February 17, 2019

      I agree but in that case we should be consequent and discontinue referring to Amb. Vince Henderson as Dr. He has a Juris Doctor degree in law, which is a professional graduate entry level degree, desinated by the title J.D. or D.Jur. normally places behind one’s name. It is not to be confused with a real Doctor of L aw, which requires a Ph.D.
      Of course, Vince Henderson can call himself anything he likes but an insistence on using Dr. as a questionable prefix leaves me uneasy and in my opinion is a sign of insecurity if not plain vanity. Not good traits in a person, who aspires to be a leader and instill sincerity and trust.

  7. John Jay
    February 15, 2019

    This PS is a waste of time nothing just talk and more talk. Guess he want to give away more of our sisserou.
    Shame on you. This ministry is going down day by day.

  8. February 15, 2019

    Should not DEXIA (Dominica Export Import Agency) have taken an initiative that would have enabled us to pass this “milestone” many years ago?

    • viewsexpressed
      February 16, 2019

      Address to the Ministry of Agriculture officials: From Roger above:
      “Should not DEXIA (Dominica Export Import Agency) have taken an initiative that would have enabled us to pass this “milestone” many years ago?
      Dr. Thomas, (I Know you in hot seat), please take note. Here you are some more credible advice and observations. Do you or your ministry or failed Skerrit are obligated to respond to us? Where is DEXIA, what is their role in 2019, what have they done lately.
      I am only minding my “Funky Business”, so please don`t leave us alone….we need answers and who is accountable. We firmly believe that Skerrit has failed us and abandoned us because he continues to spent more time flying all over the damn place with no account of what is happening. Where are we in our so called develop stages, if there has been in the past 19 years, let alone recent? What is DEXIA doing, are there farmers produces for overseas sales? Are there contractors working with DEXIA re business sales out…

  9. Ibo France
    February 15, 2019

    Everything is done haphazardly by this current regime. No wonder there is such a sad state of affairs in this country. Research and marketing should be an integral part in any production or manufacturing of goods and products. This is nothing novel. Dominica should be the bread basket of the subregion because of its fertile soil, abundance of water and favorable climate. Agriculture should be booming. Instead of a thriving economy that is based on agriculture and agr-processing, the country depends on mendicancy to subsist. Almost every development whether it is houses, hospitals, schools, roads, bridges, even repairs to public edifices is done by donor countries and agencies. This do-nothing regime has to go. The leader and his eighteen (18) blind disciples lack wisdom. Where wisdom is lacking the people perish.

  10. Neville
    February 15, 2019

    These guys love to blow their own trumpet. The problem however, we never see any results.

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