LOCAL fruits and vegetables have registered astronomical price increases over the past few weeks from scarcity constraints in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl but new information coming from a source inside the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining (MOAF) is that prices have already begun to stabilise.

Futhermore, there are expectations of a return to normal price levels by October.

Six-week crops such as lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, and callaloo will be the first to see a price reduction, the source told the Jamaica Observer. However, the country will have to wait longer for price changes in crops such as tomatoes, green and ripe bananas, plantains, peppers, and sweet peppers.

“The latter are above-ground crops and so they would have seen significant wind damage from the hurricane,” the source explained. “But the six-week crops have already started to recover.”

For instance, lettuce prices are reportedly down by 80 per cent. Just a few weeks ago the crop was retailing for around $2,000 per pound.

The preliminary outlook on produce prices follows several attempts by the Jamaica Observer to obtain official data on price changes since Hurricane Beryl, a Category
FIVE storm that battered Jamaica — particularly the western side of the island — with powerful winds and rain.

According to the source, the ministry has been hesitant to comment on agricultural prices due to concerns about rapid changes in the outlook, based on weather patterns and supply availability. However for now, the expectation is that prices will trend downward by October and remain stable heading into the busy Christmas period.

“RADA [Rural Agricultural Development Authority] has been distributing seeds and other planting materials to farmers to get them back in the fields as quickly as possible. So, barring any significant weather changes, we should be okay for Christmas,” the source said.

Vegetable farmers affected by Hurricane Beryl began recovery efforts last month. Approximately 3,500 acres of plantains and bananas were lost during the hurricane. Orchard crops for export, such as mangoes and ackees, were also impacted.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Floyd Green, in providing more detailed information on the hurricane’s impact on the agricultural sector, said approximately 23,040 hectares of farmland and nearly 49,000 farmers were affected, resulting in the loss of approximately 323,000 animals including small ruminants, poultry, and cattle.

To date, financial losses to the sector are estimated at $6 billion.

To alleviate the pressure on farmers, several corporate companies — including Hardware and Lumber, National Baking Company, and Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited — have committed millions to recovery efforts. The Government itself has allocated $700 million to purchase critical items urgently needed.

“We have had several interventions so far and we’ve seen the difference those efforts have made, particularly in the six-week vegetables. We know how farmers operate — usually after a disaster they want to get back in the fields as quickly as possible because they have families to care for, so the six-week crops are the ones they invest in first,” the source said.

Agriculture produce recording the highest price increases during the month of July:

Carrots, up 100%

Green bananas, up 100%

Iceburg lettuce, up 80%

Sweet peppers, up 180%

Pumpkin, up 80 per cent

Irish potatoes, up 80%

Plummy tomatoes, up 90%

Cabbage, up 60%.