Banana imports take big crunch out of local suppliers
Published:Friday | November 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Small banana farmers and banana chips producers are now reeling from the effects of the importation of US$6-million worth of banana and other chips into the island for the first six months of the year.
Hundreds of banana farmers are now having to find creative ways of selling the fruit as banana chips producing companies have significantly reduced their output based on a fall-off in demand.
Chairman of the All-Island Banana Farmers' Association, Greta Sessing, told The Gleaner on Wednesday that the industry was encountering serious challenges, some brought on by the wanton importation of chips into the island.
"For the first six months of this year, in excess of US$6 million was imported from Trinidad, Ecuador and other South American countries, that basically is our biggest challenge".
Robert Chambers, managing director of Maroon Pride Banana Chips, based in Maroon Town, St James, says his company is on the verge of closure as dwindling production based on the lack of demand has forced him to lay off the majority of his staff.
"Maroon Pride usually produces 7,000 dozen banana chips a week with a workforce of 35 persons functioning five or six days a week. Now, we have 10 or less persons working for a day per week or one day in two weeks, so production is down to sometimes three days for the month and 700 dozen. We cannot continue like this," he said.
Chambers also indicated that close to a hundred banana farmers have been dealt a blow from the fall-off in demand from his company's operation.