Agriculture Ministry Resuscitating Citrus Industry

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is in discussion with the Citrus Growers Association with a view to resuscitating 3,750 hectares of citrus and to establish an additional 2,083 hectares.
Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarke, in his contribution to the 2007/08 budget debate in Gordon House yesterday (April 18), said that the initiative is to aid in the recovery of the industry, which has been affected by the citrus tristeza virus and drought.
He said that intervention through the Caribbean Development Bank Loan Programme resulted in the replanting of approximately 600 hectares, while 480 hectares were planted without loan.
“Additionally, the Ministry assisted some 234 small farmers to replant 94 hectares of orchard by providing planting material, fertilizer and slug bait to the tune of approximately $8.1 million,” informed Mr. Clarke.
He added that “these interventions however are not sufficient to tap into the huge potential market for citrus occasioned by a major fall out in the Florida market.”