KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, is reporting that work is advanced for the application of a cess on all imported coffee.

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dermon Spence, said that most of the legislative work to facilitate the move has been completed.

He was delivering a speech on behalf of Portfolio Minister Karl Samuda, at the launch of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Preferred Farmers’ Programme, in the rural St Andrew community on Thursday.

He said the Government is committed to providing the necessary support for the continued growth of the coffee industry.

He noted that last year, coffee recorded a 10.4 per cent growth in production, making a significant contribution to the US$28.5-million in crop export, coming from US$18.7 million in 2014.

This performance, Spence said, “is a clear indication that in spite of challenges… there is value and potential in the industry and rewards can be reaped”, noting that Jamaican coffee is among the world’s best.

“We want to grow and export as many bags of coffee beans as possible, but in addition to that, we also want to place increased focus on the value-added component of the industry,” he noted further.

Spence assured the farmers and other stakeholders that the Government is committed to providing them with the necessary training in best farming practices, through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), so that the manufacturing sector can get higher quality raw material for the production of high-value products.