OECS/USAID fund model farm in Londonderry.
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have strengthened Dominica’s capacity for climate smart agriculture through an investment in a model farm in Londonderry under the Rallying the Region to Action on Climate Change (RRACC) Project.
This farm is to demonstrate innovative renewable energy and water conservation methods.
Director-General of the OECS Commission, Dr. Didacus Jules, said this farm was established to bring a new approach to farming in Dominica.
He detailed, “We installed a rainwater harvesting system, a bio-gas digester and a drip irrigation system. While it is a model farm set up in one location the design of that farm was very carefully done to ensure that it can become a potential model for a new approach to farming in Dominica which is more integrated and respectful of ecosystems.
“The rainwater harvesting is designed to provide the backup water supply to the facility, the bio-digester is designed to treat all pig faeces and the by-product will be used as soil conditioners, manure or for the generation of gas to heat the pens during the cool months of the year. The drip irrigation system will be used in the propagation of high protein plant materials for use by the animals reared on the compound. So from this description you can see the integration of all of the elements in this modern eco-system farm. Everything is used and everything is conserved.”
Dr. Jules hopes that the project will be used to help farmers incorporate these practices when farming.
He referred to the Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Johnson Drigo and said, “We hope that the Government of Dominica will take the lessons of that project and ensure that farmers around Dominica incorporate it in their own farming practises.”
Her Excellency, US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Linda Taglialatela, noted that the model farm will ensure food security in Dominica.
“Through this initiative, biogas digesters, rainwater harvesting tanks and solar panels were installed to support farm operations in time of energy and water insecurity. As a result, members of the farming community and staff of the Ministry of Agriculture are now able to visit the farm to witness cutting edge technologies that will allow farmers to generate their own power and capture rainwater. By working together to develop and implement these climate-smart agricultural practices, we’ve created a more dependable supply of energy and fresh water that will ultimately help these farmers improve crop yields and ensure food security within Dominica.”
