Jamaica’s farm minister Roger Clarke has said that moving the country’s banana industry forward is a top priority. He plans to increase local consumption as well as exports to neighbouring countries, such as the Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos and the Bahamas.
Clarke’s ministry is in the final stages of discussions with the EU over a €5 million project in support of initiatives to enhance the sector. Speaking at an agricultural show on the island last week, Clarke said: “Government is strengthening the Banana Board to provide the requisite technical support, planting material, extension and research services to support a re-engagement of banana acreages that were abandoned with the demise of exports.”
He added that he was disappointed that last year, some US$8 million worth of banana chips were imported into the country.
“I am prepared to use our trade policy judiciously to promote local banana production and value added. I will unfold a definitive programme for banana resuscitation with greater details in two weeks,” said Clarke.
Jamaica has a 100-year history exporting bananas to the UK before it pulled out of the business following several hurricane-hit years in 2008.
