KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica can now export bananas to Trinidad and Tobago, following phyto-sanitary clearance by the twin-island state authorities last week, the Ministry of Agriculture has reported.
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier made the announcement as he launched Eat Jamaican Month at the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) headquarters in downtown Kingston on Wednesday, November 5.
Speaking at the launch, which marked the 11th anniversary of the ‘Grow What We Eat, Eat What We Grow’ campaign, Minister Kellier said that a contract was also signed on October 16 for the supply of one container per week of bananas to a United Kingdom importer.
“This is expected to increase to 10 containers over time,” Kellier said.
Meanwhile, Kellier said that given the “enormous opportunities that exist in the export market,” the Ministry has identified over 8,000 hectares of agricultural land owned by the Government that are to be converted into agro-parks over the next five years.
These agro-parks will be located in Enfield, Westmoreland; Shettlewood in Hanover and Mafoota and Sunderland in St James.
