Petrina Francis,
Gleaner Writer
For the second time in nine months, banana farmers, such as 41-year-old Livingston Byfield of Pembroke Hall, St. Mary, have had to start from scratch.
Mr Byfield is among farmers in St. Mary who on average, suffered 30-35 per cent damage of their banana crops and farmers in Portland and St. Thomas who experienced 40 per cent damage to banana production from the effects of Hurricane Dennis.
"Mi a fi go start all over again," Byfield lamented to The Gleaner yesterday. "When mi look pan di field, it a go tek bout two months fi replant."
Last September, Hurricane Ivan destroyed his crop, and like many others, he had endured and was on the verge of exporting his first crop since last year when Hurricane Dennis came a-calling.
enough supply
Yesterday Don Witter, director of human resources and business services at the Jamaica Producers Group, disclosed that some 12,500 boxes of bananas valued at US$190,000 (J$11.78 million) were exported to the European Union in May, the first time since Hurricane Ivan devastated the industry last year.
Mr. Witter noted that while there will be a decrease in the crop to be exported due to Dennis, "bananas are reaped every week so we will be still exporting".
The director also said there will be enough supply for the local manufacturing industry.
But, for the time being, farmers like Byfield will find it hard to just eke out an existence over the coming months. "The hurricane blow down 70 per cent (of my crop) so it a go mek life difficult for me," he said.
major damage
Meantime, Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture, confirmed preliminary assessments that there has been major damage to the banana industry in St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary. He noted in particular that the Rio Grande Valley in Portland has been most adversely affected.
Mr. Clarke said his ministry was not anticipating any serious food shortages at this time. He said there would not be any serious demand for chicken because there are two million kilogrammes of chicken in cold storage.
However, he noted that the shock from the hurricane would affect the laying of eggs, which would result in a shortage of the product.
Meanwhile, the coffee industry in Portland and St. Thomas might be seriously affected as well. Mr. Clarke said the Moy Hall Coffee Factory has been severely damaged by the hurricane. He was, however, unable to give estimates of the damage.
