Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

New operational measures are imminent at Newport Fersan Jamaica Limited as government-imported fertiliser has cut its sales by more than 50 per cent this month.

While refusing to comment on whether job losses loomed at the island's sole manufacturer of inorganic fertiliser, General Manager John Allen said a shake-up was in order.

Internal adjustments

"We have to make some internal adjustments that you will probably hear about soon," he told The Gleaner.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced in August that the administration intented to import the commodity amid a wave of cries from farmers about expensive fertiliser.

Subsequent to the announcement, Newport Fersan's sales were slashed by about 53 per cent during August, Allen said.

In September, the fertiliser manufacturer only achieved 27 per cent of its target.

The general manager said its losses have continued. Based on existing trends in October, business projections have been reduced by 66 per cent.

High prices

Newport Fersan, which has been rapped by the Government for high prices, sold some $2.7 billion worth of fertiliser during the 2007-2008 business year. During that period, the company sold 34,000 tonnes of fertiliser, a decrease in its sales from 45,000 tonnes in 2006-2007.

The first shipment of 500 tonnes of fertiliser arrived in the country last Friday from the United States.

The remainder of 2,000 tonnes of the commodity is scheduled for import every week for the next five weeks.

Golding, speaking with journalists following the arrival of the fertiliser at Kingston Wharves, said the commodity should not be sold for more than $3,500 per bag.

Currently, a bag of the most popular grades of inorganic fertiliser is retailed for about $7,000.

The fertiliser is scheduled to reach retailers by Friday.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com