Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon. Karl Samuda, says that despite the impact of continual rainfall on the agriculture sector, Jamaican consumers should have adequate supplies of foodstuff for the Christmas season.
The agriculture Minister gave the assurance at a media briefing held Wednesday (December 13, 2017) at his Hope Gardens offices in St Andrew.
Bemoaning the decline in agricultural production and, in particular, the negative impact of the rains on the output of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes and ground provisions, Minister Samuda said that “all necessary steps have been taken to ensure an adequate supply” of these items. In addition, there will be adequate supplies of gungo peas and sorrel.
Minister Samuda identified a list of produce including peppers, potatoes, carrot, tomatoes, ginger, melons and cantaloupes which are to be imported to satisfy demand in both the tourism industry and for local consumption, but added that the Government was not about to import large quantities for storage, but enough to satisfy demand. Prices, he said, would be monitored weekly to gauge any increases that may occur.
Expressing disappointment at the lack of growth in the agriculture sector as a result of the prolonged wet weather, Samuda said, however, that some 32,000 more tonnes of fruits and vegetable had been harvested over last year and that increased production had been achieved in sugar, poultry meat and eggs as well as pork.
Although the year to date growth in the sector was flat, Mr Samuda expressed great optimism for the return to growth in the sector next year.
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