Yesterday's Agro-Processors and Tomorrow's Agriculture.

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 for 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 Dominican consumer”.

Constantly our agro-processors have to juggle economies of scale, regulations and their markets 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 an APAD meeting (16-06-05). 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). (again, that an arbitrary statement)

It’s time to; add glitter to the agro-processor, endorse the agro-idea, and believe in an agro-centric future. Glamorising the agro industry, making it the preferred industry for growth, success and the “kicking back for 4 months of the year”. The dynamic environment has and will forever change the way we look at agro-processing. The very difficult task at hand is preparing generations to take up the mantle. As role model entrepreneurs of the developed hemispherical quadrants; Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Puff Daddy set the grade for success, and as culture evolves and “Blinging” is the order. We might have to create a “Puff Daddy” personality agro-processor, or preferably, idolize the few agro-processors we have left, else we may witness the extinction of this industry (yeah right! How and why do you think agriculture will ever be extinct?).

Dominica’s agro-processors are under financed, poorly equipped and fail to meet international standards’ export requirements, and the BIG BUT is, we still manage to produce far more superior quality products than our two (2) and fifty (50) million dollar competitors (ok, ok, scrap that last sentence). Time and time again we out-class and out-rank them, and we will forever beat them on taste, and the quality of our raw material (where is your empirical evidence? You say it’s because some UK customers say it’s the best they have tasted! – hmmm, ok scrap that sentence also). Deny these very vivid and bestowed on abilities of our industry, and ungrateful indeed you will be.

Someone needs to arbitrate. The role of our financial institutions and their obligations to recipients in industries, specifically agriculture are so disconnected. This industry needs true, hands-on, tangible support. It’s not about putting "lending a hand" some where on the agenda, its about real action; its about a rethink of policy, new regulations, sustainable donor packages, but more importantly its laying down covenants of support.

Think about this: Why is it we are getting orders (interest is more appropiate) from all over the globe? Why can’t we meet those orders? What would happened one day if we could meet those orders? What would happen is this: The top ten (10) agro processors in Dominica would become fat, so fat that there would be an urgent need to pluck more and more taxes from the colossal profits they would bring into this country every month. A good, fair and exciting tax period - all hail the VAT era……..

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