Banana exports resumed, Clarke says as hurricane season arrives
Hurricane Sandy devastated banana production across the island in 2012.
Clarke who was speaking at a Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Open Day in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, said that although production and exports were not yet at the level of former years, the sector is back in the export market in a limited way with the Wednesday (June 11) shipment.
“We are very pleased with this development as although our bananas are cheaper when compared to those from Latin America, the people from the UK are telling us that the Jamaican bananas are the crème de la crème in terms of taste and quality.”
Clarke said that his Ministry would continue to support the efforts of the banana farmers to ensure that the sector returns to full production and reclaim its position in the banana export business.
The agriculture minister added that overall the sector has been showing tremendous growth since Hurricane Sandy.
“We have returned to growth…growing by 5 per cent, then by 13 per cent and in the last quarter, the sector grew by 18 per cent. However, even more importantly, the domestic crop sector grew by 20 per cent. The small farmers of this country are leading the way and I want to commend them,” Clarke said.
He added that with growth in the sector comes the challenge of securing markets for the produce. Clarke said that a platform for marketing is being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries with a view of exporting to new markets in the Miami area of the United States as well as across Europe.
Source: jamaicaobserver.com
