Yesterday’s Agro-Processor and Tomorrow’s Agriculture
Ibrahim Abdullah
Market Development Officer (MDO) responsible for the
Dominica Manufacturing Sector. Providing: in-plant technical assistance,
Business and Marketing Plan preparation, and, Product Development and Market
Intelligence Support.(View all articles by Ibrahim Abdullah)
Agro-Processing in Dominica
Agro-Processing in Dominica may yet be on a rejuvenated and enlighten path. Grass-roots practitioners and those igniting the industry form the dynamic APAD (Agro Processors Association of Dominica). A group singular in commitment and glued together by a vision that agriculture and it’s spawned industries is the one true wholesome alternative for an economic chain reaction (growth, and lots of it).
Mr. B. Shaw (Sure Lifesava) says “…the whole challenge of agro-processing is how do you transform agriculture to meet the demands of agro-processors”. The answer to the challenge lies in PERCEPTIONS. Cultivating the country’s negative perception of agriculture as a; second and third rate industry, profession beneath me, and subsistence living, to a rich, unexplored and fertile industry that is a hotbed of opportunity is the first fix. Speaking to the ever articulate Dr. G.P. Defoe (Nature Fresh Products) about coconut water and she explained that it was getting the Dominican consumer to accept coconut water as a premium product of $5 as opposed to this abundance that grows everywhere. “Ibrahim its about perception, …changing the perception of the consumer”.
Constantly our agro-processors have to juggle economies of scale, regulations and the market without the safety nets extended to other industry players. “There is need for some dialogue….we have to strike a balance” says Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Collin McIntyre attending the latest APAD meeting. He empathised with agro-processors pledging his Ministry’s continued support in assisting the industry and to marginalise the onslaught (challenges). Arbitrarily, one (1) in six (6) agro-processors on the island is a woman, and one (1) in eight (8) agro-processors is under the age of forty (40).
Agro-Processing in Dominica may yet be on a rejuvenated and enlighten path. Grass-roots practitioners and those igniting the industry form the dynamic APAD (Agro Processors Association of Dominica). A group singular in commitment and glued together by a vision that agriculture and it’s spawned industries is the one true wholesome alternative for an economic chain reaction (growth, and lots of it).
Mr. B. Shaw (Sure Lifesava) says “…the whole challenge of agro-processing is how do you transform agriculture to meet the demands of agro-processors”. The answer to the challenge lies in PERCEPTIONS. Cultivating the country’s negative perception of agriculture as a; second and third rate industry, profession beneath me, and subsistence living, to a rich, unexplored and fertile industry that is a hotbed of opportunity is the first fix. Speaking to the ever articulate Dr. G.P. Defoe (Nature Fresh Products) about coconut water and she explained that it was getting the Dominican consumer to accept coconut water as a premium product of $5 as opposed to this abundance that grows everywhere. “Ibrahim its about perception, …changing the perception of the consumer”.
Constantly our agro-processors have to juggle economies of scale, regulations and the market without the safety nets extended to other industry players. “There is need for some dialogue….we have to strike a balance” says Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Collin McIntyre attending the latest APAD meeting. He empathised with agro-processors pledging his Ministry’s continued support in assisting the industry and to marginalise the onslaught (challenges). Arbitrarily, one (1) in six (6) agro-processors on the island is a woman, and one (1) in eight (8) agro-processors is under the age of forty (40).
