The Ministry of Agriculture is looking at local herbs as a way to generate more income for farmers.
Local herbs are now being sought after on the regional and international market as a prime commodity.
The Ministry is very keen on tapping into that market and is in the process of having a select group of farmers groomed to meet that demand.
Ricky Brumant is Director of Agriculture.
He said farmers have to break away from just traditional crops.
“We want to engage them to start thinking outside the normal way of doing business. Herbs present a very good opportunity to make money.”
One company in Dominica, Caribbean Agro Producers has been producing herbal teas since 2006.
CEO, Dr. Gail Defoe says the demand for herbs is more than her company can supply.
“We are looking at a billion and trillion dollar market,” she says, “and I’m speaking about one herb.”
She identified herbs, all grown in Dominica, which have been recognized as top treatments for cancer and HIV.
“I’m not talking about what I have researched but what is internationally researched and available to us in our country.”
Dr. Defoe says a new generation of farmers could tap into the trillion dollar market.
She says her company wants “engaged and aware” farmers.