More Lands for Cassava

Cabinet has approved the lease of 250 acres of land in Wallen, St. Catherine, to Red Stripe for the planting of cassava in support of the company’s plans to produce cassava as a substitute for imported barley.  This is in addition to the 36-acre property which was leased to Red Stripe in Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine, to plant cassava as a pilot project.

In support of this new industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will also be expanding the agro-parks in the west to include cassava planting.

“Over the next four years, Red Stripe plans to increase cassava production to 2,400 acres and Government, in support of this initiative, is expanding the agro-parks in the west to support cassava planting,” said Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Hon Derrick Kellier while addressing patrons at the 60th annual Hague Agricultural and Livestock Show in Trelawny on February 18.

The cassava cultivated at the agro-parks will be a production base for a new cassava processing factory which will be opened at Elim in St. Elizabeth by the end of this financial year. This factory, he said, was intended to supply cassava flour to the baking industry.

In addition to the planting of cassava, the cotton industry will also be receiving support from the Government through the agro-parks where lands will be made available for the planting of West Indian Sea Island cotton (WISIC) to increase production from 300 acres to 2,500 acres.

The revitalisation of the cotton industry is being spearheaded by the Jamaica Agricultural Development Foundation through a grant of $11M from the Japanese Government to provide infrastructure for the production of 300 acres of WISIC.

WISIC is the world’s best quality cotton based on its fibre length, quality, fineness and texture.  It commands premium price in the textile market and has a high demand internationally with major buyers being from Switzerland and Japan.