As Dominica enters the peak months of the 2025 hurricane season, the Ministry of Agriculture is urgently calling on livestock farmers across the island to strengthen their preparedness among the top recommendations: store at least a week’s supply of feed and salt. This measure is critical to safeguarding food security and reducing livestock losses in major storms.
Salt, in particular, is highlighted as a key necessity for meat preservation, especially during prolonged power outages when refrigeration becomes unreliable. Officials also recommend that farmers improve animal shelter conditions and properly tag or identify livestock, using paint, tags, or photos, to facilitate recovery or assistance efforts after a natural disaster.
The advice forms part of a national effort led by the Ministry, with support from FAO, UNDP, and IICA, to build disaster resilience in Dominica’s agricultural sector. Agricultural officers in all seven regions have been mobilized to work with farmers one-on-one to implement these measures.
Livestock is a critical component of rural livelihoods, and even temporary disruptions can have devastating financial effects. The Ministry warns that waiting until a storm is imminent is too late, and encourages all livestock owners to treat preparedness as a year-round responsibility.
This renewed emphasis on livestock protection follows a series of assessments showing that many rural farms remain underprepared despite the increasing intensity of storms linked to climate change. Officials hope the current awareness drive will help minimize post-disaster losses and speed up recovery across the sector.
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