HAUGHTON COURT, Hanover — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Pearnel Charles Jr says consumers should not experience a shortage in food supplies this Christmas. He conceded, however, that some items may remain out of reach for some people because of their cost.

“The information that is provided to me is that we actually do not have any food shortage for this Christmas, which is a very good space that we are in right now. It does not mean that you may not have one or two persons that can’t access it because of the prices in the supermarket, so there is still work to be done,” he said.

The minister said food production is at reasonable levels, which has allowed the country to maintain sufficient supplies. This is a trend that the ministry wants to continue, he said.

Charles Jr was fielding questions from the Jamaica Observer while speaking with the media in Hanover last Wednesday.

In 2020 the country experienced a shortage of supplies, a combination of the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and heavy rains that caused significant damage to crops.

In November of that year the then Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green told the House of Representatives that close to 3,000 hectares of crop, valued at $2.5 billion, had been lost.

A few weeks ago, president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society Lenworth Fulton suggested that there is a shortage of certain vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and lettuce, while there may be a shortfall in sorrel — a plant used to make a popular Christmas drink.

Addressing the official opening of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) parish office in Hanover last Wednesday, Charles Jr reiterated that the agriculture sector has recorded six consecutive quarters of growth. He said this is a positive trend which is expected to continue.

“The last one was 17.4 per cent growth in the sector when compared with the year before. That is a good trend, that is a positive trend. It is showing that the recovery is strong in the sector and the sector is building up itself as the backbone and the shoulder for the country to stand on as we move to sustainable growth and development for the nation,” he said.

Factors to which he attributes the growth include a $1-billion injection to stimulate production and strategic partnerships with the Moroccans, who gave fertiliser support which helped Jamaica when it was most needed. Fertiliser and feed are the two main inputs that increase the production cost of ground provisions and livestock, respectively.

Charles Jr said these supporting initiatives and the work of teams from RADA, the Agro Investment Corporation, and the agriculture ministry have also contributed to the growth seen in the sector.

He also pointed to the hard work of those who directly make a living from agriculture.

“Thanks and congratulations go to our farmers and our fishers. They are getting up at 3:00 am, 4:00 am and 5:00 am. They are doing what we are not willing to do to put food on our tables. Throughout COVID when we were stuck inside, they were producing and doing it safely,” he said.

The minister said more growth is expected because of investments being made such as the $110 million spent on the Hanover RADA office, and the purchasing of a $90-million excavator to assist with the cleaning of drains in St Elizabeth — the country’s bread basket.

In addition, investments in tractors, vans and cold storage have played an important part in the creation of a stronger sector to produce more and in a consistent manner, he said.