KINGSTON, Jamaica- Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pearnel Charles Jr says Jamaica has taken a major step towards food security with the sector recording growth of 10.4 per cent in domestic crop production in the first quarter of 2022.

The growth trajectory continued into the second quarter (April-June) of 2022, with preliminary estimates of production showing the sub-sector growing to 219,667 tonnes, up from 212,134 tonnes in the first quarter, an increase of 7.4 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2021.

This reflects an increase over the first quarter of the year by 3.6 per cent.

“This performance represents the government’s commitment to sustain gains and reflects one of the best-performing quarters on record. We commend our farmers, fishers and all stakeholders as we display the continued recovery and growth of the sector coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic with increasing demand from both local and export markets,” said Charles Jr in a statement in the House of Representatives last Tuesday.

He disclosed that the main crop groups showing increases in the quarter were yams which grew by 16.5 per cent; plantains (11.7 per cent); cereals (sweet and regular corn up 11.0 per cent); vegetables up 10.3 per cent and potatoes up 4.8 per cent.

“The top contributors to production remain the central parishes with St Elizabeth contributing 40,889.5 tonnes to the total national production volume, followed by 31,870.3 tonnes from Trelawny,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, Charles Jr lauded Irish potato and onion farmers, pointing out that the National Irish Potato and Onion Programme was an integral part of the country’s overall strategy to sustain production and productivity levels and improve the nation’s food security. He said the security of the programme has contributed directly towards assisting over 5,000 farmers and has supported direct and indirect employment creation for over 40,000 people.

The minister said the Irish potato programme, which commenced in 2008, is aimed at satisfying 100 per cent of the estimated 17,000 tonnes of Irish potatoes that is demanded annually.

“For the 2021-2022 period 70 per cent of the national demand was achieved and, thanks to our hard-working farmers, since November 2021-July 2022 there has been no importation of table Irish potatoes.

Charles Jr said it was also noteworthy that the demand per annum increased from 15,000 tonnes in 2008, to presently 17,000 tonnes per annum based on the request for this local staple.

“For this Irish potato season our target is to put 1,500 hectares of land into production. This represents a 20 per cent increase over the 2021-22 planting season. The areas targeted include Guy’s Hill and the Manchester belt along with the upper Westmoreland, Darliston area and Mavis Bank in St Andrew.

Meanwhile, with Jamaicans consuming 10,000 tonnes of onions per annum, Charles Jr said the aim was to satisfy 20 per cent of the demand for the 2021-22 planting season. However, that target was surpassed.

“We can proudly commend our farmers, RADA and its extension officers as we have produced 40 per cent of the total demand surpassing the 20 per cent target with 230 hectares planted. For the 2022-23 period we are projecting a 50 per cent increase in production,” the minister said.

During the fall season, over 100 hectares will be cultivated in the parishes with support from the Ministry’s Production Incentive Programme.

“For this planting season we are targeting expansion of this programme in the traditional growing areas of Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny and, of course, St. Thomas.

“I am pleased to announce that $200 million has been allocated to provide support for the National Irish Potato and Onion Programme ($150m for Irish potato, $50m for onion). For this programme, seeds will be available by mid-October for our farmers. We will continue to strengthen our relations with the Potato and Onion Producers Association, major traders in the marketplace, and encourage the members to establish satellite farms and become more integrated with farmers in the production side of the supply chain,” Charles Jr said.