Bananas and Plaintains Should Return by February 2025

Bananas and plantains are expected to return to the market in good supply by February 2025.

Addressing Wednesday’s (September 25) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, said both crops contribute more than $13 billion annually to Jamaica’s economy, and were severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl.

Detailed assessments revealed that approximately 64 per cent of the crops in production were damaged, translating to more than $1.8 billion needed to resuscitate the crops.

“At least 73 of our major banana farmers lost over 50 per cent of their crops. Normally, it takes seven to nine months for our banana crop to recover. We did an initial allocation of $40 million through the Banana Board, which has reached about 2,300 banana farmers and what we do is, we provide them with fertiliser and we put them on a six-week regime for them to try and bring back those crops, so that is happening apace,” the Minister said.

Mr. Green advised that an additional $38 million has been allocated to support banana farmers who operate on less than 0.2 hectare of land and were not covered under the initial allocation.

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has, so far, identified over 500 such farmers who will be provided with similar support.

“Our banana and plantain sector will not rebound until seven months from July, so next year February thereabouts, and that’s just the reality, because it takes some time,” the Minister said.