In September 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica, causing extensive damage to homes and livelihoods. Antonia, a 52-year-old mother of two, was among those affected. Her home was destroyed, and her bee farm, which was her sole source of income, was left in ruins.
Hurricane Maria inflicted $931 million in damages on Dominica, wiping out 226% of its GDP overnight. The agricultural and fisheries sectors suffered the most, with small-scale farmers like Antonia facing significant losses. The total loss for crops and livestock amounted to $179.6 million.
Antonia's situation was particularly dire as she had recently started her beekeeping business after being made redundant from Dominica Coconut Products in 2007. With government support, she received training in non-traditional work areas and chose beekeeping due to its long shelf life and lower labor intensity compared to other agricultural ventures.
She invested her savings into breeder hives and an extractor for honey production. However, just as she was about to start commercial honey-making, Hurricane Maria struck.
“When you pour your time, energy, and whatever little money you have into something, hoping to watch it thrive, and then a hurricane comes and takes it all away; it's absolutely heartbreaking," said Antonia.
In response to the hurricane's impact, the Dominica Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience project emerged as a crucial initiative for helping farmers rebuild their lives. This project is a collaboration between the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and the World Bank aimed at providing assets to farmers and fisherfolk while rehabilitating croplands and improving agricultural technologies.
For Antonia, this project has been a lifeline. She received new equipment for her bee farm: 30 complete boxes with 300 frames expected to yield 300 gallons during the first season. Her honey is now distributed in local supermarkets while demand for wax and honeycomb remains high among pharmacies, soap producers, and shoemakers. “It’s a sense of independence; it’s where I find my happy place," said Antonia about her business revival.
The project has supported over 3,700 farmers—20 percent of whom are women—by providing essential farming equipment such as tractors plows irrigation systems seeds fertilizers pesticides among others necessary inputs required for crop cultivation Over 150 beneficiaries received materials related specifically towards livestock activities almost thirty structures including barns shelters feeding stations were constructed with seventy-one more currently underway Additionally restored over four thousand five hundred hectares representing nearly six percent total land area
Recognizing ongoing climate change challenges introduced climate-resilient technologies assisting mitigate adverse effects crop production techniques include soil conservation practices crop diversification water management strategies agroforestry
Amid escalating food security crisis assisted government tackling issue grants provided more than three thousand two hundred farmers boosting local production contributing improved food security across Dominica