Agriculture Minister wants more Banana and Cocoa from St. Mary

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, is urging greater banana and cocoa outputs from St. Mary, one of the country’s prime regions that produces these crops.

Speaking at the launch of the Ministry’s $42 million ginger and turmeric projects at the Orange River Research Station in the parish on Thursday (March 8), Mr. Clarke, in noting that St. Mary is “banana and cocoa country”, contended that the parish ought to be “doing much better, in terms of agriculture”.

“When one recognizes that we imported some US$8 million worth of banana chips into the country last year, I say it (level of imports) is a no-no. We have to find a way to get (St. Mary and, by extension, Jamaica) back into (substantial) banana production. We are working out some modalities, and we are going to be launch that one soon,” he informed.

Regarding cocoa, Minister Clarke noted that the crop has “taken on a new lease on life” while pointing out that he was “amazed to see the kind of interest displayed,” in the crop.

“We must get back to ‘fixing up’ our cocoa trees (by) pruning, (and) fertilizing (in order to) get production back up, (as) there (are) markets for it. Our cocoa is, probably, the best in the world and, therefore, we must produce and produce and produce. You can’t have a cocoa tree producing 10 pods per year; it’s going to give you problems,” he underscored.

Minister Clarke also contended that: “When a (farmer) reaps cocoa, when he goes under one tree (he must) reap (a significant amount of) coca. (He must not be walking) over 10-acres of land (in order) to get a box of cocoa. And that is what we (at the Ministry) are about. Productivity must be the order of the day”.

By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter