Sustainable Farming in Dominica

Sustainable farming in Dominica leverages the island’s fertile volcanic soils, abundant rivers, and diverse ecosystems to create an agricultural sector that supports livelihoods, conserves natural resources, and enhances resilience, especially in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Integrating conservation principles with farming, this approach is now central to national development strategies focused on food sovereignty and climate adaptation.

Historical Response and Strategy in Sustainable Farming in Dominica

When Hurricane Maria struck in September 2017, it wiped out nearly all Dominican staple crops, livestock, and rural infrastructure. In response, the government launched the Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project (EALCRP) in 2018, funded with US $28.6 million from the World Bank. This initiative:

• Restored farm access roads, irrigation infrastructure, livestock pens, and farmhouse structures for over 3,700 smallholder farmers, completing most rebuilds by 2023.
• Promoted eco-friendly techniques such as agroforestry, contour planting, organic composting, seed preservation, and erosion control, significantly reducing the sector’s vulnerability to future storms.

Simultaneously, the Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan positioned sustainable farming as a national priority to support food security and ecological health. By 2020, approximately 15% of agricultural, aquacultural, and forestry lands were managed using sustainable practices, including soil conservation and regenerative land care.

Institutional Support and Stakeholder Roles

A comprehensive network of government bodies, research institutions, and development partners supports sustainable farming in Dominica:

• The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy leads agricultural policy, extension services, and post-harvest facilities to enhance supply chain resilience and sustainable land use.
• The Agricultural Information and Communication Technology Unit (AICTU) compiles farm data and trends to better direct resources and assess impact.
• CARICOM Agricultural Research & Development Institute (CARDI) conducts field research on resilient root crops like dasheen, tannia, and yams, and helps manage seed banks to preserve genetic diversity.
• FAO provides technical training; in 2024, FAO trained 25 extension workers in protected cropping and post-harvest practices to reduce food losses.
• Funding partners like the EU, GEF, IFAD, and the World Bank finance resilience projects, infrastructure upgrades, and farmer training.
• Local NGOs and eco-tourism businesses, including Jungle Bay and Rosalie Bay Eco Resort, collaborate directly with farmers to supply sustainably grown produce and host educational farm tours.

Regions, Methods, and produce

Sustainable farming methods flourish in several regions through diversified cropping and ecological techniques:

• Agroforestry systems in areas such as Calibishie, Bellevue Chopin, La Plaine, and Castle Bruce combine fruit trees with root crops and vegetables, reducing erosion and increasing biodiversity.
• Small-scale protected cropping systems in highland zones grow leafy greens, peppers, and broccoli within low-tech greenhouses built with FAO guidance, resulting in lower post-harvest loss and extended growing seasons.
• Contour farming and crop rotation are standard for root crops like dasheen, yams, and tannia, improving soil fertility while sustaining local dietary staples.
• Herb and spice plots cultivate bay leaf, ginger, turmeric, stevia, and lemongrass, used for local wellness, culinary products, and eco-tourism offerings.

These eco-friendly practices reduce dependence on synthetic inputs; farmers often use homemade composts and biofertilizers. Customers in local markets frequently pay 12–17% price premiums for sustainably produced items, reflecting increased recognition of quality and environmental stewardship.

Economic and Food Security Impacts

Agriculture accounted for roughly 20–22% of GDP before Maria, but the sector fell to 11–13% afterwards due to extensive crop losses and infrastructure damage. Import dependence grew; food imports rose from US$40 million in 2016 to US$56 million by 2020. This widened trade gap underscored the need for domestic resilience.

Sustainable farming efforts have since helped:

• Rebuild farm-based economies faster than conventional methods alone.
• Create over 6,500 jobs in rural areas through EALCRP projects.
• Boost produce prices and profitability through premium pricing.
• Improve yields: Sustainable root crop farms have recorded an average 20% yield increase after adopting regenerative practices.
• Increase land under sustainable management to approximately 15% by 2020, with ongoing efforts to expand this figure.

Environmental Benefits and Cultural Importance

By adopting regenerative approaches, farmers help conserve watersheds, preserve soil, and protect marine environments from erosion and sediment runoff. This is particularly vital in regions like Soufrière and Scotts Head, where runoff threatens marine ecosystems.

Traditional farming knowledge, including ancestral permaculture methods practiced by the Kalinago community, continues to inform modern sustainable systems. Cultural practices like seed saving, agroforestry, and communal land care remain central to local identity and ecological stewardship.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite successes, several obstacles remain:

• High costs for biofertilizers, seedling materials, and infrastructure like greenhouses and water storage.
• Gaps in post-harvest and transport infrastructure hinder market access.
• A lack of accessible finance and technical support limits the expansion of smallholders.
• Limited youth participation due to migration and lack of starter capital.

To build on progress, the following are key:

• Legal and policy frameworks to support farmer cooperatives, eco-certifications, and agro-processing businesses.
• Expansion of greenhouses, irrigation, storage, and processing facilities.
• Youth-focused initiatives with grants, mentoring, and farm incubation.
• Extension services enhanced by CARDI and FAO–led training to scale sustainable methods.

The Path Forward

Dominica is well-positioned to advance as a Caribbean leader in sustainable agriculture. With ambitious targets, such as increasing sustainable land use to over 25% by 2030, and support from national and international partners, the island aims to strengthen food systems, climate readiness, and eco-tourism integration.

Through the integration of traditional environmental knowledge, resilient infrastructure, market incentives, and policy support, sustainable farming in Dominica offers a practical and nationally aligned model for small-island development.