Despite the damage suffered by the already fragile banana industry as a result of torrential rains brought by Hurricane Dennis, one leading exporter of the fruit is optimistic that exports will not be affected in the short term.
Don Witter, director of human resources and business services at the Jamaica Producers Group, said preliminary assessments indicate that more than 35 per cent of banana crops in the main banana-producing areas in Portland, St. Thomas and St. Thomas have
been damaged.
Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke said the banana and coffee industries have been identified as the worst affected so far. He said however, that the Ministry, along with the relevant agencies, were in the field assessing the extent of the damage done. He said the Ministry would be able to give a better assessment when the team returned.
Mr. Witter also said there will be enough supply for the local manufacturing industry.
The damage has come at a time when the banana industry is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Ivan last September, which ravaged the entire agricultural sector. Some 12,500 boxes of bananas valued at US$190,000 (J$11.78 million) were exported to the European Union in May, the first time since Hurricane Ivan.
Minister Clarke, who was addressing the Trade Policy Committee of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) recently, noted that the banana industry has declined significantly over the last 12 years, partly due to hurricanes. He said exports have dropped from a high of 76,000 tonnes in 1993, to a low of 27,000 in 2004.
The decline of the banana industry over the years, he said, has contributed to a decline in the standard of living for many people who live in the banana-growing areas across the island.
The Minister noted however, that there was hope for the industry as local consumption of the ripe fruit has increased dramatically to approximately 100,000 tonnes, more than three times the quantity currently exported. In addition, he said there is some optimism in the industry given the linkages to the tourism industry, agro-processing and other sectors.
