George Henry, Gleaner Writer
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
SEVERAL FARMERS in St. Elizabeth are blaming government's failure to provide canning machines and a cold storage facility for a current shortage of vegetables and some fruits. They said this shortage could have been avoided or reduced if government had taken the necessary steps to have a canning machine imported to have fruits and vegetables processed for storage.
According to the farmers, Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, promised to have at least one canning machine imported to take care of excess crops. It was expected to be in place by last June. However, this has not happened.
They also said a cold storage facility should be made available to farmers so that perishable crops like lettuce can be stored there to take care of shortages.Claude Taylor, one of the largest producers of tomatoes in south St. Elizabeth told Farmers Weekly that several farmers lost thousands of dollars because products such as tomatoes rotted during a recent glut in the parish. This could have been avoided if the canning machine and facility were available, he said.
He said the machine was to prevent farmers from being forced to seek imported goods during droughts and natural disasters. This will also protect consumersfrom high prices which may be charged by importers.
"We need to can the excess fruits and vegetables so that whenever there is a shortage, we do not have to run to the overseas market and use up scarce foreign exchange to have these things imported," said Mr. Taylor.
Meanwhile, Kingsley Clarke, vice-president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), said his organisation plans to establish a cold storage facility by December. It will store crops purchased from farmers. He stated that the facility is being set up at JAS' head office in Kingston and will offer a retail outlet to supermarkets, hotels and to the public. JAS is also considering agro-processing, so crops can be taken from farmers in huge quantities, he said.
"I want to say to the farmers, however, that they cannot be selling to us (JAS) today because the price is at a particular level and (then) when it jumps, you then jump over the fence and sell to somebody else. There will have to be a constant supply to have the thing going properly," said Mr. Clarke.
