Preliminary reports from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), on the effects of Hurricane Dean on the agriculture sector, show that banana and vegetable production were the most affected.

Banana production in the main growing areas of Portland and St. Mary was destroyed, while 42 per cent of the crop in Westmoreland was affected, Director General of ODPEM, Ronald Jackson, recently said at a press conference.

In addition, approximately 75 per cent of the island's vegetable crops were destroyed; sugar cane loss is estimated at 40 per cent; cocoa and chicken at 20 per cent each; while 60 per cent of housing for livestock was affected.

The beating from the Category Four hurricane on the agriculture sector has since affected the price of ground provisions.

Thus far, the major increase appears to be on the price of scallion. Reports are that the crop is currently being sold for approximately $100 per pound, up from about $40.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, in September 2004, tomato was being sold for up to $200 per pound for months.