OIC Director Keian Stephenson

Keian was born in the Commonwealth of Dominica, better known as the Nature Isle of the Caribbean- it is not the Dominican Republic as often mistaken. Although born and grown in the town, he came from a farming family-third generation of farmers- and his father being an Extension Officer and part time farmer often took him along on Ministry of Agriculture Duties and on the farm on weekends and school holidays.

This made Agriculture and farming come naturally to Keian and could not see himself doing anything else in life but his love he found. Often growing up in the town when asked, at school, what one want to be when they get older Keian always answered “a farmer, or Agriculturist.”

Keian further that skill working as a Plant Quarantine Officer, after leaving college in 1995 -1997, for the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

In 1997 with a scholarship he attended the Easter Caribbean Institute for Agriculture and Forestry, ECIAF, in Centeno, Trinidad, where he obtained a Credit Diploma in General Agriculture- receiving the awards for best practical student and best final year project.

On return to Dominica in 1999 he continued work with the MoA but now as an Extension Officer, a post he holds to present at various levels and positions.

Keian has received various training throughout his career which has lead him to the respect and love of Organic Farming.

He was one of two(2) Master Trainers, from Dominica in 2002, trained in the EC-CARIFORUM Caribbean Agriculture and Fisheries Programme, in the Integrated Pest Management/ Farmer Field School project, Founded by European Union (EU), CAB International (CABI), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

2004- 2005, study leave was granted to him, for obtaining a MSc. in Sustainable Organic Agriculture (International Rural Development), from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, England. And in 2006, held acting position, as Organic Coordinator, of the Ministry of Agriculture, while responsible officer was on vacation leave.

In June 2006, he attended a basic Organic Farm Inspection course by the Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA), where he received a Certificate of Completion of IOIA/JOAM Organic Farm Inspector Training.

Keian, in October 2006, also was trained in Standardization and Quality Assurance, by the National Institute of Training For Standardization (NITS), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in India. He received a Certificate of successful completion of the 39th International Training Programme on “Standardization and Quality Assurance” for Developing Countries.

Besides his formal Training in Organic Agriculture and relative fields, and his 13 years experience as an Extension officer with the MoA, Keian is an active member of the NGO Dominica Organic Agricultural Movement (DOAM) and holds the post as Treasurer on the Executive. DOAM works closely with the Organic farmers and other stalk holders to promote the interest of Organic farming in Dominica.

Keian is also a part time farmer, growing Organic vegetables for over ten (10) years, and other crops such as plantain ,sweet potatoes, passionfruits, ginger, yams and seasoning peppers, in the country side where he spent many weekends and holidays with his father- and now where he lives.

Through his love of Organic farming, and close relationship with the rural farmers Keian wishes to spread his influence, knowledge and experiences of Organic Farming to farmers in Dominica. He believes that farmers in Dominica generally practice Organic principals and has great respect for natural lifestyles and would love to assist them in a tangible way.