KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says it notes with great concern an advisory emanating from the Agro- Investment Corporation (AIC) indicating an intent to divest the Agricultural Marketing Corporation (AMC) complex.

The facilities within this complex have for decades supported the farmers of the country through inventory holding, both ambient and cold; sorting, grading, inspection and packaging of particularly export crops; and served as a distribution hub for farmers’ produce, supplying hotels, hospitals and large wholesale outlets.

“The PNP is concerned that with post harvest losses climbing as high as 40 per cent for some crops, the Government deems it appropriate to divest itself from the very facility whose services reduce post harvest losses. Of equal concern is the loss of a facility that supports exports,” the PNP said in a statement on Monday.

“The Opposition recalls the Government’s stated intention to place greater emphasis on the variables that facilitate export. Indeed, the Portfolio Minister amplifies Export Expansion as a critical component of his ‘New Face of Food’ and yet one of the largest complexes facilitating exports is slated for divestment. Indeed, several export companies use the facility to receive, sort, grade, inspect and package their produce for export,” the statement read.

Additionally, the PNP says it is reminding the Government that the largest non-traditional export crop is yams and that most of the yams are prepared for export through the AMC. In 2022, the value of yams exported was US$ 34.993 million and that export value will be threatened by the divestment, the party said. “Of equal significance is the fact that yam production in 2022 represented approximately 25 per cent of Jamaica’s total non-traditional production, and impacting the export marketing channel could seriously retard sales and leave farmers in a destitute state.”

The PNP said it is strongly urging the Government to rethink the divestment option. “In fact, we advance the position that more agricultural complexes that offer appropriate storage, an efficient and responsive distribution system, and sorting and grading facilities should be built by the

Government,” the party argued.

“We believe that this will stimulate agriculture production and remove the bad experiences of glut and scarcity; reduce excessive produce assembly costs; lower high wholesale and retail margins; and temper high seasonal and geographic variation in prices.”