A pioneering farmer from Dominica’s Capuchin community has earned international acclaim, drawing formal congratulations from the island nation’s top agricultural official following her selection as one of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s 100 Women Heroes in Agri-Food Systems and Rural Development.
Roland Royer, Dominica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, called the historic recognition a moment of collective national pride, shining a spotlight on Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste’s extraordinary 40-plus-year career dedicated to sustainable farming and stewardship of Dominican lands.
For Royer, who also holds the position of parliamentary representative for the Cottage constituency that Carbon-Jno Baptiste calls home, the achievement carries deeply personal local significance. In his remarks, he framed Carbon-Jno Baptiste’s success as more than an individual honor: it is a powerful reflection of the foundational role all Dominican farmers play in advancing the country’s long-term development.
Royer emphasized that agriculture extends far beyond basic food production. The sector, he explained, acts as a binding force for local communities, a platform for intergenerational knowledge sharing, a creator of meaningful economic opportunity, and a core pillar of Dominica’s overall social and environmental resilience.
The minister also used the announcement to uplift the often-overlooked contributions of women across Dominica’s agricultural industry. He noted that Carbon-Jno Baptiste’s global award spotlights the quiet, consistent work of thousands of unsung Dominican farmers who show up daily to feed their communities and sustain local livelihoods.
Extending congratulations on behalf of both the Government of Dominica and the residents of the Cottage constituency, Royer shared his expectation that Carbon-Jno Baptiste’s trailblazing story will inspire a new generation of young Dominicans—especially young women—to pursue careers in agriculture, a sector he says offers meaningful opportunity, deep personal dignity, and widespread national pride.