The Division of Agriculture has partnered with the Dominica Essentials Oils and Spices Cooperative in providing technical and plant support as part of the Cooperative’s diversification programme.
On Wednesday the Division of Agriculture handed over five hundred ylang ylang plants to the Cooperative which will be distributed to farmers involved in the movement.
The ylang ylang is a herb used in alternative herbal treatments to treat ailments and problems.
“What we have done is we have assisted them in the propagation of the planting material. They will now go and hand over these plants to the farmers and members of their cooperative” Talithia Laudat -Agriculture officer with the Division of Agriculture said during a presentation ceremony at the Botanic Gardens on Wednesday morning.
The Dominica Essentials Oils Cooperative is an established cooperative in Dominica, playing a leading role in the production of bay oil.
Raphael Corriette President of the Dominica Essentials Oils and Spices Cooperative who was present for the formal presentation of the ylang ylang plants said in recent time the production of bay oil has been faced with challenges which has resulted in a marked reduction of bay oil on the island.
Corriette said the cooperative is now moving to diversify into the production of other essential oils including ylang ylang.
“As everything faces difficulties, bay oil is no exception. Bay oil is now faced with disease and it is time that we diversify into the production of other essential oils that are viable on the international market and ylang ylang is no exception” said Corriette.
He added “We have had difficulty in propagating these plants and we are so grateful to the Agricultural Division for making this contribution in providing these plants for our diversification project.”
Corriette said there is a ready market for ylang ylang oil hence the decision by the essential oils cooperative to diversify in this area.
“Ylang ylang oil fetches a good price on the international market and this is why essential oils has made it a point of duty to ensure that in our diversification project we identify ylang ylang as one of our main products”.
Dominica’s Acting Director of the Division of Agriculture Ricky Brumant told reporters on Wednesday that this assistance to the cooperative is part of the Division of Agriculture’s programme to assist farmers in their diversification efforts.
“This is a manifestation of the work of the Division in collaboration with the Essential Oils Cooperative and is part of a wider diversification drive by the Ministry to ensure that we are well diversified on the ground to get income from different enterprises, farmer activities and crop and livestock” Brumant said.
Meantime Manager of the Dominica Essential Oils Garnet Eloi thanked the Government of Dominica and the Division of Agriculture for the much needed support.
“We are very grateful. It’s a historic moment for our society. Since 2007 we have been trying to embark on a diversification programme and today we are seeing the first phase of it, where the Government of Dominica has come on board and propagated some plants that we could distribute to our farmers to embark on this project”.
The ylang ylang plant has been used to boost sensuality and is an aphrodisiac, and can also reduce skin irritations and stabilize mood swings.