THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to further fund the Banana Support Programme which is aimed at improving banana production and promote diversification in the traditional banana-growing areas of the island.
The funding agreement was signed last Thursday by Ambassador Gerd Jarchow, head of the European Commission delegation in Jamaica, Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance, and Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture and Land, at the Ministry of Finance, Heroes Circle in Kingston.
Under the Banana Support Programme, which began in 1996, the EU has provided $3 billion in funding to assist with increasing the efficiency, yield and competitiveness of the banana industry in line with changes in international trade.
The funding will go directly towards:
The Banana Improvement Programme - which gives direct support for improving banana and plantain production for both the local and export markets;
The Rural Diversification Programme - which assists persons who used to be involved in plantain and banana production.
Ambassador Jarchow said this programme of assistance forms part of the EU's objective to promote sustainable development and assist the banana sector and households which are dependent on the industry.
"This programme continues to play a critical role in the traditional banana producing areas of the island, where it is estimated that some 3,000 persons are directly employed in the industry and are primary wage earners for 13,000 to 16,000 rural family members," Minister Clarke said.
According to him, the EU's assistance "has assisted us in maintaining the level of our banana export earnings, despite the ever-increasing competition in the international market." The banana industry is fourth largest foreign exchange earner for the island.
The Agriculture and Land Minister said he was particularly excited about the rural diversification component as it would "stimulate economic development by promoting alternative agricultural and non-agricultural income-generating activities."
