DOMINICA: "VITAL STATISTICS" | |
The country of Dominica is the most northerly and largest of the Windward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. It lies between the French islands of Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. | |
Location |
Latitude: 15 degrees 20 minutes North |
Area |
751 sq km (289.5 sq mi) - approximately 50 km (30 miles) long, 22 km (14 miles) wide |
Population |
Last census (1981): 73,795 |
Language |
English; a local French Patois is also spoken |
Economy |
Predominantly agricultural; a growing tourism sector, largely nature tourism-oriented; small but lively manufacturing sector |
Primary Crops |
Bananas are the major crop, exported mostly to the UK; citrus crops (oranges, grapefruit and limes) also important; coconut crop consumed primarily for production of soap and cooking oil; other agricultural efforts: coffee and cocoa crops, pilot aquaculture projects, and cultivation of ornamental flowers for export. |
Tourism |
Tourism geared to nature holidays with facilities for hiking, diving, fishing and river bathing. Earnings from tourism becoming a more visible part of GDP, notwithstanding the lack of direct international air links. |
Ports |
Two minor ports (Roseau and Portsmouth); Roseau maintains a deep water harbor at Woodbridge Bay north of the capital; Prince Rupert's Bay at Portsmouth provides a smaller harbor which is less deep but more sheltered than Roseau. |
Airports |
Main airport is at Melville Hall on the windward coast, some 40 miles from the capital; a secondary, smaller airport is located at Canefield, three miles from Roseau. |
Roads |
750 km (467 miles) of roadway, of which 500 km (312 miles) are paved |
Rainfall |
Interior: 250-300 inches/year; coastal lowlands: 50-70 inches/year; over 80 percent of the island has 2,500 mm (100 inches) or more of rainfall a year |
Physical Features |
High volcanic peaks rising in the south (Morne Trois Pitons) to 1,424 m (4,670 feet) and in the north (Morne Diablotin) to 1,730 m (4,747 feet); deep forests, lakes, waterfalls and numerous rivers; little flat land apart from the Portsmouth area which has two swamps. |
OBJECTIVES:.
- control soil erosion
- protect watersheds and streams ' - improve microclimate for agricultural crops
- reduce risks of hurricane damage
- diversify production
- improve environmental awareness of farmers and extension workers
OUTPUTS:
- windbreak, shelterbelt, roadside and streamside plantation with double rows of different trees: 10,000 meters in 1st year, increasing to 26,000 meters in 5th year- plantation of 50 acres with contour strips of legume trees and vetiver grass for soil conservation in the first year, increasing to 200 acres in the fifth year
- environmental education for extension workers, farmers etc.
- coordination of efforts of Agriculture and Forestry Division
ACTIVITIES:
- training of MOA and DBMC extension workers in conservation measures
- production of video for extension workers
- yearly selection of priority areas
- promotion of programme through extension workers and media
- lining of contour lines and windbreak location
- transport of seedlings from nurseries to fields
- assistance to farmers for planting
- provision of materials for the protection of plants from livestock
- production of video for farmers during 1st year's activities
- coordination with diversification programmes
BENEFITS:
- maintenance and improvement of soil fertility
- long-term increase of agricultural productivity through wind protection and soil conservation
- production of firewood and timber
- production of fruits, nuts and spices
-creation of favourable conditions for wildlife
- improvement of water supplies
- enhancement of beauty of the country
LOCATION:
- steep banana fields and root crop plantations
- wind-exposed banana stands
- roadsides endangered by erosion
- banks of streams
SPECIES TO BE PLANTED:
- for windbreaks, shelterbelts etc.# avocado
# cashew
# mango
# tamarinde
# cinnamon
# cloves
# cocoa
# galba
# white cedar
# mahogany
# teak- for contour strips (soil conservation)
# Calliandra
# Sesbania
# Gliricidia
# Leucaena
# Vetiver grass
SEEDLINGS AND PLANTS REQUIRED PER YEAR:
|
1st year |
2nd year |
3rd year |
4th year |
5th year |
legume trees |
30, 000 |
40,000 |
50,000 |
60,000 |
70,000 |
timber trees |
4,000 |
5,000 |
7,000 |
8, 000 |
12,000 |
fruit trees |
4, 000 |
5,000 |
7, 000 |
8, 000 |
12, 000 |
spice trees |
1,000 |
1, 000 |
1,000 |
2, 000 |
2, 000 |
cocoa |
depending on cocoa project | ||||
Vetiver grass |
growing demand: approximately 1000 m2 multiplication area |
Another part of contour legumes will be sown directly (Leucaena)
INPUTS:
- 2 Forestry Assistants (part time 50 %)
- 1 Clerk/Typist
- 1 Driver
- 1 4WD vehicle
- 1 truck
- material and staff for video production
- fencing material for plant protection against livestock
- seedlings and vetiver plants (from forestry nursery and MOA).
- seeds (Leucaena) and cuttings (gliricidia, galba)
- tools
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:
Agroforestry Unit, Forestry and Wildlife Division, Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with Dominica Banana Marketing Corporation and Ministry of Agriculture Extension Services
LINKAGES:
- nursery project for supply of seedlings- Agriculture Division for training of extension workers and promotion of programme and supply of vetiver grass plants
- Tropical Fruits and Spices Project for coordination
- agricultural field stations for supply of tree crop seedlings
- Rural Communications Centre for video production
- Dominica Banana Marketing Corporation for training of extension workers and promotion of programme
- Agroforestry Development Project for utilization of experiences of trial and demonstration plots
- Cocoa and Tropical Tree and Spices Projects for coordination
PROJECT BUDGET:
(US-Dollars) Multipurpose Tree Planting
Item |
year 1 |
year 2 |
year 3 |
year 4 |
year 5 |
a) Donor Contribution | |||||
1 4WD vehicle |
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
5,000 |
6,000 |
7,000 |
8,000 |
9,000 |
1 Truck |
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
6,000 |
7,000 |
8,000 |
10,000 |
12,000 |
Video production |
3,000 |
2,000 |
|
|
|
Seeds, cuttings. |
1,000 |
1,500 |
2,000 |
3,000 |
4,000 |
Fencing material |
5,000 |
6,000 |
7,000 |
8,000 |
9,000 |
Tools/equipment |
3,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
SUB TOTAL |
73,000 |
23,500 |
25,000 |
30,000 |
35,000 |
b) Government Contribution | |||||
2 Agroforestry |
|
|
|
|
|
Assistants |
20,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
1 Clerk |
6,000 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
1 Driver |
4,000 |
4,000 |
4,000 |
4,000 |
4,000 |
Office facility |
6,000 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
Seedlings (fruit and spice trees) |
6,000 |
7,200 |
9,600 |
12,000 |
16,800 |
SUB TOTAL |
42,000 |
43,200 |
45,600 |
48,000 |
52,800 |
TOTAL 1 |
15,000 |
66,700 |
70,600 |
78,000 |
87,800 |
TOTAL DONOR CONTRIBUTION |
186,500 | ||||
TOTAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION |
231,600 | ||||
GRAND TOTAL |
418,100 US$ |
PROJECT DOCUMENT
AGROFORESTRY DEVELOPMENT
INTRODUCTION:
The Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture has in 1987-89 realized, agroforestry extension and trial plots in an effort to increase the productive potential of the resources while maintaining a balance with the environment. Especially in Bagatelle and Petite Savanne, the population accepted the need for new agroforestry techniques to solve social and economical problems.
However, initial steps at establishing agroforestry programmes were restricted by lack of necessary funds to provide training for extension staff and farmers, transportation and material necessary for its implementation. In the Carib territory, the Dominica Conservation Association (DCA) started an agroforestry project, but needs support for its successful implementation, as resources are very limited.
Target areas were chosen according to the pressure to find solution to existing problems:
# on the East coast (Carib territory and other regions) running rivers which provided pipe born water to villages have dried up due to deforestation and inadequate agricultural practices# in Bagatelle and Petite Savanne the production of Bay Oil decreased by 13 % from 1989 to 1990 due to shortage of firewood for the distillation process. Bay trees were cut to obtain fuel.
# in steep hills around Salisbury pure stand banana cultivation on recently cleared land produced severe soil erosion and decreasing banana yields (a special regional project for Salibury might be presented separately)
# in Castle Bruce estate existing agroforestry systems were destroyed giving way to banana monoculture, expanding to the hills which surround the estate
Agricultural profiles for particular tree crops
crop |
season |
main cultivars |
age |
yield |
retail price |
banana |
all year |
Robusta |
- |
6.00 |
30-40 |
grape fruit |
aug-mar |
Marsh Ruby |
1-25 |
2.52 |
11-25 |
oranges |
aug-feb |
W. Navel Valencia |
1-30 |
0.48 |
30-55 |
limes |
apr-july |
W.I. |
1-50 |
0.99 |
50-80 |
tangerine |
july-dec |
|
1-20 |
1.50 |
50-80 |
mandarin |
|
|
|
|
|
Mango (grafted) |
apr-sept |
Julie |
1-40 |
1.00 |
55-85 |
avocado |
jun-dec |
Various |
1-5 |
0.68 |
50-95 |
Guava |
all year |
local pink |
1-20 |
? |
20-50 |
data for bananas for 1989, other crops 1985; yield estimates approximate(source: BBD/Tropical Development and Research Institute, 1986; Dominica Marketing Corporation 1990)