Building a Better Jamaica

Monday, February 01, 2010
Jamaica Observer

JAMAICA'S agriculture sector has recorded a 23 per cent increase in gross output for the fourth quarter of 2009, despite challenges presented by drought, pests and disease outbreaks, according to preliminary data compiled by the agriculture ministry.

"This is calculated to lead to a 20.5 per cent increase in GDP contribution for the quarter," said the ministry's quarterly report on crop production, a copy of which was obtained by the Observer yesterday. "For the year 2009, the overall sector is estimated to have grown by approximately 13.0 per cent."

According to the report, the domestic crops sub-sector recorded a 33.5 per cent increase in production in the fourth quarter of 2009, and a 22.4 per cent increase for the year. The performance, the ministry said, represented six consecutive quarters of growth in domestic crop production.

That, the ministry said, was due to its "increased interest and investments supported by targeted interventions in productivity and marketing".

The report said that all crop groups -- except for legumes which recorded a 1.2 per cent decline -- showed significant increases in production.

"These increases ranged from a low of 8.6 per cent for fruits to a high of 131.2 per cent for plantains. In addition to plantains, outstanding increases were recorded by condiments (63.0 per cent), vegetables (40.6 per cent), cereals (32.4 per cent), yams (26.7 per cent) and potatoes (23.5 per cent)," the report said.

In terms of total volume, vegetables, yams, plantains, condiments and potatoes represented the most significant areas of increase, with vegetables (33.8 per cent) and yams (32.2 per cent) being the most significant contributors to overall domestic crop production for the quarter.

However, the report pointed out that drought in several of the productive zones, especially during the middle periods of last year, as well as the beet army worm, affected production in some areas.