Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy has launched a targeted collaborative program with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to upgrade local protected agricultural systems, centering on climate-smart greenhouse production to future-proof the island’s farming sector. A cohort of 30 diverse agricultural stakeholders was selected to take part in specialized, hands-on training sessions led by Jervis Rowe, FAO’s designated Protected Agriculture Specialist. The participating group included smallholder farmers, active greenhouse operators, local construction contractors, frontline agricultural extension officers, youth agricultural advocates, and post-secondary students enrolled in agriculture-focused academic programs. The training curriculum was structured to cover three core priority areas: optimized greenhouse construction methodologies, data-driven operational management frameworks, and guidance on selecting locally adapted, high-performance agricultural inputs that maximize crop yields under tropical climatic conditions. As a practical component of the program, the joint FAO and Ministry technical team conducted on-site audits of existing greenhouse facilities across three high-priority locations: Massacre, the Kalinago Territory, and La Plaine. During these assessments, the team mapped gaps in structural infrastructure, identified inefficiencies in day-to-day operational workflows, and flagged untapped opportunities to boost overall productivity at each site. The initiative also facilitated structured consultations with local agricultural input suppliers, to vet and recommend regionally suitable sweet pepper and tomato seed varieties, as well as custom-formulated fertilizers tailored specifically for protected greenhouse cultivation environments. Long-term, the public-private partnership is designed to support Dominican farmers in building and operating far more resource-efficient greenhouse systems, lifting annual crop yields, and expanding sustainable, climate-resilient livelihood opportunities across the country’s agricultural value chain. By disseminating evidence-based improved production techniques and widely adopted climate-smart practices, the Ministry and FAO are working to build a more robust, productive local farming ecosystem, while equipping every tier of agricultural stakeholders with the actionable knowledge and tangible resources required to mitigate climate-related risks and meet future food security challenges head-on.
Agriculture Ministry and FAO strengthen climate-smart greenhouse farming in Dominica
