By Vanessa James
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – The ministry of agriculture, fisheries and mining has launched several initiatives, including farmers’ markets and the accelerated implementation of cold-storage facilities, to address the surplus of certain crops currently on the market.
Speaking during a recent press briefing at the ministry’s Hope Gardens headquarters in St Andrew, portfolio minister, Floyd Green, disclosed that there has been an excess production of sweet potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, pak choy, yellow squash, cauliflower, zucchini and string beans.
One of the strategies the ministry plans to employ to address the glut is the staging of weekly farmers’ markets across the island, with support from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS).
Green indicated that the first farmers’ market was held on January 23 and will continue over “the next few weeks to expand market access and support direct farmer-to-consumer sales.” He added that transportation support will be provided to assist farmers in getting to the markets.
Additionally, the ministry, through RADA, will engage agro-processors to absorb excess produce and convert it into juices, concentrates, and other value-added products.
Green also disclosed that a buy-back programme is being developed, similar to the initiative implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic when the hotel market experienced a downturn.
“[During COVID-19] the Ministry directly intervened and provided a market for the farmers by buying the produce and then redistributed it. We are now in the final stages of pulling that programme together to look at how much we will spend, [and] what areas we will target,” he said.
Minister Green also announced that cold storage facilities will be utilised to manage the oversupply of produce. He noted that the Flagaman facility in St. Elizabeth, comprising two 20-foot storage containers powered by renewable energy, is expected to become operational within the next three weeks.
Meanwhile, the Essex Valley storage facility in the parish will be launched in early February, providing capacity for 22 containers of fresh produce.
“I’m saying now that once we launch, the Agro-Invest Corporation (AIC) will have to operationalise that [facility] in the shortest possible time,” minister Green stated. Additionally, the Kirkvine cold storage facility in Manchester is slated for launch in the first quarter of the next financial year.
Green advised that construction of the facility is nearing completion and will provide farmers with space to store their produce.
