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National policy objectives
identify agriculture as a major agent for rural
transformation, the attainment of macro-economic
stability, and sustainable development. Agriculture
is the single most important private sector activity
in Dominica, both in terms of number of persons
employed and contribution to GDP, averaging 9.24%
per annum of GDP between 1994 and 2003. Despite
declining production, agriculture continues to be a
significant contributor to total domestic exports,
contributing 29.8% of the total in 2003 and 34% in
2004. Bananas continued to be the main contributor,
(over 50%) with important contributions from
plantains, dasheen and avocadoes. Notwithstanding
the decline in agriculture’s share in GDP, the
sector still continues to play a significant role in
the overall social and economic development of the
country.
Inspite of the economic indicators, the weight of
the contribution of agricultural activity must be
measured in its significant contribution to
employment, food security and social welfare. The
continued development of the food, agriculture and
natural resources sector is critical to maintain and
improve social welfare as well as contribute to
economic growth. Such development must be built on
firm policies, strong institutions and the requisite
infrastructure to support diversification,
agro-processing and export expansion. This process
is being guided by a redefinition of a vision for
the food, agriculture and natural resources system
that consistently provides safe and nutritious food,
generates high incomes through a wide spectrum of
innovative and competitive business activities and
makes positive contributions to rural prosperity,
poverty alleviation and environmental
sustainability. This is in keeping with the national
Medium Term Growth and Social Protection Strategy (MTGSPS)
of that sets the sets the course and direction for
Dominica’s economy over the next five years and
outlines the macro-economic framework within which
agriculture must be repositioned.
The GoCD projects a 3% growth in GDP in the
medium term, which will result in a decreased
unemployment rate of approximately 6.2% by 2009/10.
Agriculture is projected to provide approximately
23% of the 2,600 new jobs expected to be created
during the medium term. In order to achieve this,
the strategic framework for economic recovery and
growth of the agricultural sector will, inter alia,
place emphasis on strategies geared towards the
development of eco- and agro-tourism, agricultural
diversification, fisheries expansion and
agro–industries. Emphasis will also be placed on
providing the enabling environment for private
enterprise development and increasing exports of
goods and services.
The development challenges to the food,
agriculture and natural resources system in Dominica
are no different from other CARICOM states and
coincidence of the Dominica’s policy goals with
regional and hemispheric initiatives provides some a
guarantee of support on the regional and hemispheric
front. Indeed, opportunities exist for Dominica to
benefit from the regional, hemispheric and
international and partnerships with the OECS,
through its Agriculture Plan, the CARICOM led Jagdeo
Initiative, the Caribbean Fisheries Regional
Mechanism (CRFM), the UN FAO-led National Medium
Term Investment Profiles (NMTIP), the Summit of the
Americas Agriculture Agenda 2015 and the UN
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially
Goals 1, 3, 7 and Goals 8.
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1 Extracted from the National Medium
Term Priority Framework for FAO Assistance -
Dominica Draft document, 2006.
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