Farmers Ready to Explore Options for Marketing of Roots and Tubers – Stern

Jamaican farmers are ready to explore options that are available for greater marketing of roots, tubers and other crops, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Michael Stern, has said.
The State Minister, who addressed a public forum, put on by the Scientific Research Council (SRC), at the Dorritt Bent Hall, in Spaldings, Clarendon, on February 11, to promote the root and tuber industry, said the Government is ensuring that the products are commercialised on a wide scale, and exported to regional and international markets.
“I believe there is great potential in this parish, in terms of our roots and tubers, and we welcome the focus that is now being placed in this area by the Government. We are talking about our potato, yam, ginger, cassava, and dasheen,” he outlined.
He informed that for the first four months of 2008, the value of exported yam was US$10.95 million, which was a relatively good performance, considering the fact that the export value in 2007 was US$15.5 million, while in 2006, yam fetched US$14.7 million.
“Let us use this forum as a launching pad for serious and focussed attention, not only on our roots and tubers, but on all crops that we can grow, and from which we can receive added value. When we eat more of what we produce, we save the country much needed foreign exchange and help to build lasting industries,” the State Minister said.
Mr. Stern, who is also Member of Parliament for the area, encouraged persons at the forum to use the information provided, to improve their yields.
“This forum is not only important in creating greater awareness among our farmers, it will help to change the mindset of our traditional farmers, so that we all begin to accept the value of using the various technologies available and the different ways in which our roots and tubers can be used to create value added products,” he said.