The Commonwealth of Dominica is working laborious to enhance the resilience and sustainability of its agriculture because it waits for wealthier nations to meet their monetary assist commitments beneath the Paris Settlement.
Roland Royer, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Blue and Inexperienced Financial system, said at COP29 that the nation was pursuing that goal with help from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and different world establishments.
Royer underlined the importance of the nation’s agricultural business, which employs 6,000 farmers. Since a big portion of Dominica’s output has been shipped to close by islands for many years, Royer stated, “the resilience of our agriculture sector is essential not just for Dominica however for your complete Caribbean area.”
At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Minister Royer participated in occasions on the IICA-run House of Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas exhibit. Regardless of their low carbon emissions, he emphasised how weak the area’s growing nations are to harsh climate. “We emit nearly no carbon or different greenhouse gases, like different growing nations within the area, however we’re very weak to extra frequent and excessive climate occasions,” Royer said.
Royer addressed his viewers concerning the devastating results of Hurricane Maria in September 2017, which severely ravaged Dominica. He demanded help from the world group, particularly developed nations, including, “Regardless that we’re not chargeable for local weather change, we needed to rebuild not solely the agriculture sector however your complete nation, and we needed to do it with our assets.”
The minister additionally emphasised Dominica and IICA’s 40-year partnership. Relating to expertise switch, farmer help, and enhancing the standard of life for rural individuals typically, IICA has been an in depth buddy of Dominica for the previous forty years. Moreover, IICA has given girls within the villages a number of help and inspired younger individuals to pursue careers in agriculture,” he said.
Royer instructed IICA about his expertise attending a coaching course in Costa Rica in 2019.
“I believe this program impressed me to remain within the business and work for enchancment. Organizations are essential for farmers to achieve experience and develop into extra aggressive. We subsequently recognize IICA’s help over the earlier 4 a long time and stay up for our continued collaboration,” he stated.