Vegetable oversupply not caused by importation, says Green

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green says that the oversupply of certain crops on the market is not due to the importation of vegetables.

“None of the vegetable line glut are due to importation, absolutely not. No tomato, no lettuce, no cabbage, nothing like that," Green said.

He was addressing the sitting of the Standing Finance Committee at Gordon House on Friday, March 6.

He noted that although onion imports were authorised in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the current market glut was not caused by an excess of these imports.

“It’s not that we have imported more onions than normal… but there have been challenges on the wharf in relation to clearance, in relation to time and sometimes timing makes a difference,” Green explained.

He further advised farmers who have excess supply of produce to contact the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), as the agency has been collaborating with private sector partners, purveyors and processors to move produce such as onions and tomatoes.

“In the immediate outcome what we are doing now, we are in the market with the purveyors buying tomatoes and that is happening right across the length and breadth of Jamaica. Where people have tomatoes [and onions], we have been moving them,” he stated.

Green went on to outline other strategies being implemented to address the oversupply of tomatoes.

He shared that the ministry has been hosting a series of farmers’ markets across the island, with the next one scheduled for March 7 as part of the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival at Hope Gardens.

He also noted that agro-processors have been engaged to assist in reducing tomato oversupply.

“In relation to tomato we have been talking about the issue of tomato purée and looking at products like ketchup, and we have one agro-processor that we’ve had good discussions with [in relation to that],” he said.

“On another leg we have had an agro-processor who has done some work on formulating a drink which includes things like tomatoes and other fruits… [and] we are trying to push that because, at the end of the day the more we can get more value addition it’s the better for all of us,” Green added.

The Minister also urged farmers who may have a market for their produce, but do not have adequate transportation to contact RADA, as trucks have been provided free of cost to help with the distribution of produce.

- JIS News

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