TWENTY ST. Thomas farmers have been assisted by the Cocoa Industry Board (CIB) to rehabilitate some 58 hectares of cocoa plots.
"To date, we have pumped into the industry over half-a-million dollars for this project for fertiliser, rat bait and cocoa seedlings," said Naburn Nelson, CIB's secretary/manager, at a recent farmers meeting at the Village Green Restaurant in Morant Bay, St. Thomas.
Two years ago, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the CIB, formulated a development project to revive the cocoa industry. The project included the rehabilitation of more than 600 hectares of cocoa in St. Mary, Portland and St. Thomas and the provision of grants to cover the costs of agricultural inputs.
The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) have also assisted with the project.
Mr. Nelson said that although overall cocoa production was low for the 2002/03 crop year, some 3,000 boxes of cocoa were produced in St. Thomas -- 4,000 boxes less than its production capacity.
REFURBISHING PLOTS
He said that the CIB is currently refurbishing cocoa demonstration plots in St. Thomas to teach farmers proper cultivation practices. "We are looking at bringing around production in the short term," he said, while noting that more farmers must begin large-scale production. He added: "The Cocoa Industry Board cannot remain viable in a situation like this. We have to find ways and means of motivating farmers."
