Gareth Davis, Gleaner WriterSMALL BANANA farmers in Portland and St. Mary are concerned over the recent decision by the Banana Export Company (BECO) to suspend the shipment of bananas from the Boundbrook wharf in Portland.
Ravaged by Hurricane Ivan last year, and also by hurricanes Dennis and Emily in July of this year, small farmers especially are devastated by the decision which could sound the death knell for their livelihood.
"I have only managed to start replanting bananas in August," said Rudolf Smith, a farmer in the Buff Bay valley. "My farm is now starting to look really good as I have already replanted more than five acres of bananas. Banana planting is my life and I have made lots of sacrifices without any help from Government. And now, this."
The additional expense of transporting the goods to Kingston is expected to severely squeeze the profit margins of the small farmers. Last year, hurricanes put a halt to banana exportation for more than nine months, however, in late May, the first shipment of bananas took place at the Boundbrook Wharf with a little over 9,000 pallets exported.
150 YEARS OF EXPORT TRADITION
The suspension, which brings an end to 150 years of export tradition, takes effect on January 1, 2006. As of that date, all banana shipments will take place from the Kingston Wharf. Forty workers are expected to lose their jobs as a result of the suspension.
The Boundbrook facility, which at one time accounted for more than 96 per cent of the country's banana shipments, will only be used to facilitate growers who are unable to 'palletise' on their own.
'Palletise' means to transport or store by means of pallets, which are flat wooden boards.
Managing director of BECO, Vincent W. Evans, explained that the suspension of banana shipments is unavoidable as "the only vessels that will be available to take Jamaica's bananas are too large to be accommodated at the Boundbrook wharf".
"As a consequence, all fruits must be delivered on pallets to the Kingston Wharf as of January 1, 2006," said Mr. Evans. "However, in the interim, BECO will facilitate growers who are unable to palletise on their own by continuing the current arrangement for the activity to be carried out at Boundbrook Wharf."
Mr. Evans said provisions are being made for the transportation of bananas from the Boundbrook Wharf to Kingston Wharf, and that BECO will continue to operate the Banana Trading Company and the Banana Support Programme from the Boundbrook facility.
So far, 35 of the 37 reefer containers (cold storage) have been transferred from Boundbrook to Kingston. Large estates in St. Thomas and St. Mary will have to truck their bananas directly to Kingston instead of Port Antonio. However, a glimmer of hope still remains as the suspension may be temporary.
"If production levels rise, the ships may once again make their call at the Boundbrook Wharf facility," a source from BECO said.
