Agriculture Ministry To Put In Roads And Water For 1,000 Acres Of Mango Orchards

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has earmarked $128 million to put in the infrastructure of roads and water to build out 1,000 acres of mango orchards, beginning this financial year.

“We invite our private sector to contact the AgroInvest Corporation to see how they can become involved,” Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, said during his contribution to the 2021/22 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives recently.

Additionally, he said approval has been given by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to construct a hot-water plant for the treatment of mangoes in the country.

He said a private partner has committed to constructing the hot-water treatment plant. “We expect that this plant will be built before the next mango season,” he added.

The Minister pointed out that when the mangoes leave here, despite being on a managed programme for fruit flies, they have to go to another state to be irradiated before they can be sold in the United States.

“With this hot-water treatment plant, we will not have to do that. Anybody who has a mango tree in their home, can send their mangoes so we can treat them here and we can export them,” he said.